84 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 



MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS, INCLOSURES, GROUNDS, ETC. 



Considerable repairs had to be made to some of the buildings and 

 inclosures, including new roof covering on part of the lion house and 

 the rebuilding of the fence around the elk paddock, and a portion of 

 the retaining wall above the bear yards on the eastern side of the park 

 was rebuilt where it had been undermined by the weathering of the 

 rock below, 



A severe storm on July 30, 1913, destroyed a number of large trees 

 and caused serious damage throughout the park. The cost of remov- 

 ing the debris and restoring the park to its normal condition was 

 about $1,500. 



BRIDGE. 



The construction of the " rough stone or bowlder bridge " across 

 Rock Creek, which was mentioned in the last annual report, pro- 

 ceeded in a satisfactory manner. The contract for the excavation 

 and masonry work was secured by the lowest bidder, the Warren F. 

 Brenizer Co. The plans and specifications were prepared by David 

 E. McComb, engineer of bridges. District of Columbia, and it was 

 thought best that the supervising engineer and the inspector of the 

 work should be persons recommended by him. Mr. W. A. Draper 

 was accordingly employed as engineer and Mr. William Champion as 

 inspector. No obstacles of any importance w^ere met with during 

 the progress of the work, though it was found that the excavation 

 required for the piers was somewhat greater than had been antici- 

 pated. The bridge was opened for travel on November 1, 1913. As 

 there was a heavy fill of earth over the stone masonry, it Avas neces- 

 sary to defer the construction of the macadam surface and concrete 

 sidewalk until spring. This also was satisfactorily completed during 

 June, 1914. 



The following is a statement of the expenditures from the appro- 

 priation of $20,000: 



Expenditures prior to July 1, 1913 (all outside of contract for excava- 

 tion and masonry) $1,776 



Total payments under contract 10,914 



Expenditures during this fiscal year (outside of contract) 5,158 



17, 848 

 Since the close of the fiscal year expenditures and liabilities have 

 been incurred, amoimting to $335, for restoring and perfecting the 

 approaches to the bridge. The total expenditures to date are there- 

 fore $18,183. 



ALTERATION OF THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE PARK. 



The sundry civil act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1914, con- 

 tained the following item: 



Readjustment of boundaries: For acquiring, by condemnation, all the lots, 

 pieces, or parcels of land, other than the one hereinafter excepted, that lie 



