REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 85 



between the present western boundary of the National Zoological Park and 

 Connecticut Avenue from Cathedral Avenue to Klingle Road, $107,200, or such 

 portion thereof as may be necessary, said land when acquired, together with the 

 included highways, to be added to and become a part of the National Zoological 

 Park. The proceedings for the condemnation of said land shall be instituted by 

 the Secretary of the Treasury under and in accordance with the terms and 

 provisions of subchapter 1 of chapter 15 of the Code of Law for the District of 

 Columbia. 



Under the sanction given by this act the attention of the Secre- 

 tary of the Treasury was immediately called to the matter. A great 

 delay has occurred. It is understood that a new survey of the prop- 

 erty involved was necessary, that the searching of titles to the vari- 

 ous parcels of land consumed considerable time. The case is now 

 before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia awaiting the 

 award of a jury. In the meantime the principal property owner 

 has endeavored to enhance the value of the land by grading and 

 otherwise improving it. The total amount to be purchased is about 

 lOf acres. 



ROCK CREEK MAIN INTERCEPTOR. 



The District of Columbia having obtained from Congress author- 

 ity to construct a large sewer, called the " Rock Creek main inter- 

 ceptor,"' extending from P Street northwest to the Military Road, 

 District of Columbia, began work upon it within the limits of the 

 park on June 1, 1913. The project involves both an open-cut sewer 

 and a tunnel, about 2,000 feet in length, extending from a short dis- 

 tance below the new bridge to the Klingle Road. This construction 

 necessarily produces a considerable disturbance of the surface and 

 defacement of the natural features of the park. This is particularly 

 the case at either end of the tunnel, where thousands of yards of 

 excavated material have been dumped. It is hoped that the District 

 officials will be able to remedy this in some measure when the work 

 shall be completed. This is expected about September 5, 1914. 



NEW APPROACH TO THE PARK. 



By an act of Congress approved March 2, 1911, there was author- 

 ized a new approach to the park from Sixteenth Street and Colum- 

 bia Road to what has been known as the Quarry Road entrance. 

 This has now been completed by the District with a fine macadam 

 roadway, and offers a most convenient and attractive route for reach- 

 ing the park from the city. The Quarry Road, which had a very 

 steep and dangerous gradient, has been abolished as a means of 

 access. 



IMPORTANT NEEDS. 



Aviary. — Attention has been called for several years past to the 

 importance of erecting a suitable house for the care and preserva- 



