Appendix IV. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL 



PARK. 



Sir: I liave the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the 

 National Zoological Park for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897 : 



The close of the last year found the system of roadways in the park, authorized 

 by acts of Congress, still in an uniinished condition. This state of affairs has been 

 markedly improved by the completion of the Adams Mill road, by making the road 

 from Woodley practicable for carriages, and by completing the macadamization of 

 the main driveway through the park. 



The Adams Mill road, laid out with a width of about 20 feet, has been fully mac- 

 adamized, the base used being broken quartz rock and the surface layer pulverized 

 bine limestone. It makes a very pleasant winding driveway, affording an excellent 

 view of the valley of Rock Creek, and while the grades upon it are steeper than is 

 desirable for easy driving, they are not more so than most of the roads that approach 

 the valley in this region. 



In order to connect the roadway from Woodley with the main system of the park, 

 it was necessary to construct a bridge at a point considerably beloAv the one at the 

 Quarry road entrance. By boring it was found that solid rock could be reached at 

 a short distance below the surface, and it was accordingly decided that it would not 

 be necessary to build a masonry foundation. By excaA^ating the sand and gravel 

 sufficiently to denude this rock, and by blasting enough to obtain a good bearing 

 surface, a suitable bed was formed upon which to lay concrete, forming a massive 

 block of sufficient size to afford a solid support for the flat stones upon which could 

 rest the beams of an arch forming a single span of 70 feet, made as low and flat as 

 practicable. 



The main driveway through the park, which was laid out so as to make the grades 

 as light as possible, proved iipon practical trial to be too tortuous for tlie safety of 

 the numerous carriages that frequent it in ever increasing numbers. Some of the 

 more abrupt curves were accordingly modified, and its macadamization, which was 

 commenced last year, was then completed. Broken quartzite was used for the base 

 of this road, the surface being of fine gravel mixed with a small quantity of clay. 

 As far as can be judged by the experience of one winter, the result is satisfactory. 

 It is hoped that the coming year may see the entire road system of the park in such 

 condition that it will be possible to reach all the principal exhibits over good roads 

 during any season or weather. 



The walks of the park have also been improved to some extent during the year. 

 About the i)rincipal animal house there has been constructed a granolithic footway 

 of ample width leading along the outer or summer cages. This walk will be prop- 

 erly shaded, and is a much needed improvement. From the animal house to the 

 main driveway there has been laid a pathway of pulverized bluestone, which is 

 found to be much better than the board walk formerly in use. As fast as the avail- 

 able funds permit, foot walks of this kind should be constructed in all parts of the 

 park. Although the first cost is somewhat more, their much greater durability 

 makes them really more economical than the unsightly board walks that now disfigure 

 the roadsides. 



A well graded and macadamized carriage road from the street-car line of the Capi- 

 tal Traction Company, upon Cincinnati street, to the entrance of the park near the 

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