REPOBT OF THE SECRETARY. 79 



em boundary of the National Zoological Park and Connecticut Ave- 

 nue, from Cathedral Avenue to Klingle Koad, this land, together 

 with the included highways, to become a part of the park. The ap- 

 propriation was not a continuing one and lapsed at the end of one 

 year, before legal proceedings for the purchase were completed. 

 Items for the reappropriation of this sum and for the additional 

 amount necessary to meet the figures fixed by the court in proceed- 

 ings of condemnation have since been submitted to Congress in the 

 estimates each year, but have not been favorably considered. 



The principal entrance to the park will always be from Connecti- 

 cut Avenue, and the importance of a frontage on that thoroughfare 

 at and bordering the gate can not be overestimated. The necessary 

 land should be acquired before it is too late, in order that when the 

 time comes a dignified entrance gate can be constructed and the near- 

 by land controlled by the park authorities. 



IMPORTANT NEEDS. 



Roads, bridle paths, and automobile parking. — As mentioned in 

 the report for last year, the question of providing space for the park- 

 ing of automobiles near the main buildings is serious. The enormous 

 increase in the number of cars visiting the park makes it difficult to 

 care for the safety of the public without adequate parking space. 

 More than 4,500 automobiles sometimes pass through the park in a 

 single day, and many of the large sight-seeing cars regularly visit 

 the Zoo. During the coming year it will be necessary to make ex- 

 tensive repairs to roads and walks, and some change should be made 

 in the bridle path in order that riders would not be forced to use the 

 bridge and main road from the Harvard Street gate to the cross- 

 roads. 



Grading and filling. — As soon as practicable the work of grading 

 and filling, commenced two years ago but discontinued for lack of 

 funds, should be completed. As left, it makes an unsightly and un- 

 finished-looking place in one of the most conspicuous points in the 

 park bordering the main road. The further cutting away of the 

 irregular hill in the center of the western part of the park and the 

 filling in of the near-by ravine will level nearly 70,000 square feet 

 of ground which is now of little use and make available a further 

 25,000 square feet of ground at the ravine. This will eliminate a 

 dangerous curve in the automobile road. 



Repairs to antelope house. — Practically the whole west side of the 

 antelope house needs reconstruction. The building is over 20 years 

 old and the timbers and other woodwork on the west side are almost 

 beyond repair. When the work is undertaken the walls should be 

 fixed properly with concrete and the cages considerably enlarged. 



