FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1341 
such commissioners having been appointed by a court of record at the seat of Gov-’ 
ernment, it is presumed that all the ordinary precautions were taken to avoid the 
appointment of those who, by reason of their interest, would not be proper persons 
to make the assessments. The legal proceedings in the court for condemnation are 
being conducted by the United States attorney for the District’of Columbia and an 
assistant, Mr. Webb, appointed by the Attorney-General at the request of the 
commission. 
The Attorney-General has caused the titles to so much land as has been purchased 
to be examined, and is engaged in still examining the titles to those parts concerning 
which agreements have been made and upon which payments will be made as fast 
as the titles are favorably reported upon. 
No.money has been paid by the commission upon any purchase except where the 
Attorney-General has thus reported upon the title. 
The above report answers, it is believed, all of the inquiries made by the resolu- 
tion, directly and positively, but owing to the peculiar nature of the resolution and 
the matters therein inquired of, as if there might be something wrong, the Secretary 
begs leave further to say in reply thereto that a report was made by the commission 
to this Congress in full, concerning all the matters transacted by the commission from 
its organization to the date of the report, January 17,1890. This report will be found 
in extenso, in the House Misc. Doc. No. 72 (a copy of which is herewith transmitted), 
and it thereby appears that there has been procured by purchase a little over 131 
acres of land, and that by proceedings in condemnation, or as public or unclaimed 
land, about 35 acres additional will be acquired, making in all about 1663 acres; that 
the price agreed upon by purchase is stated to be $158,356.76.. The valuation offered 
by the commission and approved by the President for the land to be acquired by 
condemnation is stated at $18,772, making a total probable cost of the whole, 
$177,128.76. 
The act under which the commission was formed appropriated $200,000 and author- 
ized the purchase of not less than 100 acres. The purchase of 1664 acres, therefore, 
at $177,128.76 shows that the commission has performed its duties so carefully and 
efficiently as to come far within the limits*prescribed by the bill both as to amount 
of land and price. It may be said also that the lands were purchased at most 
reasonable prices. 
It is to be further observed that when the commissioners appointed by the court 
to appraise the values of the land condemned under legal proceedings make their 
award, and the same is approved by the court, it is necessary still further that the 
President shall express his opinion that such values are reasonable before the sums 
assessed shall be paid to the owners. 
Most respectfully, Joun W. Noste, Secretary. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. 
Referred to Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. 
January 21, 1891—House. 
Letter from the Secretary of the Commission. 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
Washington, D. C., January 19, 1891. 
Str: I am instructed by the commission for the establishment of a zoological park 
in the District of Columbia to present this its final report. The report, signed in 
duplicate, I have the honor to inclose to you. : 
Very respectfully, yours, S. P. LANGLEY, 
Secretary Smithsonian Institution and Secretary Zoological Park Commission. 
THE SPEAKER OF THE House or REPRESENTATIVES. 
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