REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 85 



of the jury was not filed until December 11, 1914. The hearing of 

 objections to the verdict much delayed a final conclusion, especially 

 as the time of the court was almost wholly occupied by a contest in 

 an important will case. It was not until June 28, 1915, over two 

 years from the passage of the appropriation act, that the court con- 

 firmed the verdict as regards the awards for damages for the land 

 to be taken. The benefits assessed against the neighboring property 

 were set aside by this and by a subsequent decision of January 28, 

 1916. The decree of the court fixed the amount required for the 

 purchase of the land at $194,438.08. The cost of the proceedings for 

 condemnation was $2,203.35. 



The great delay caused by these legal proceedings occasioned an- 

 other complication. The appropriation made by the act of June 23, 

 1913, was not a continuing one, but lapsed at the end of one year. 

 Consequently after June 30, 1915, there was nothing available to de- 

 fray the purchase of the land. 



An item for an additional appropriation and for a reappropria- 

 tion of the original sum appropriated by the act of June 23, 1913, 

 was submitted to the first and second sessions of the Sixty-fourth 

 Congress, but was not favorably considered. 



It is greatly to be regretted that this appropriation failed, as it 

 is exceedingly desirable that the land in question be obtained for 

 park purposes before it is too late. A frontage on Connecticut Ave- 

 nue at this point is most important, because the principal entrance to 

 the park will probably be here for all time, and it is essential that 

 the control of the land be in the hands of park authorities. 



IMPORTANT NEEDS. 



Grading and filling. — The work of grading and filling, commenced 

 last year, should be continued. The further cutting away of the 

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

 filling in of a nearby ravine will level nearly 70,000 square feet of 

 ground which is now of little use and make available about 25,000 

 square feet of ground at the ravine, besides straightening out the 

 automobile road at this point. More inclosures are seriously needed 

 for deer and similar animals, and this grading would provide for a 

 number of these yards on flat ground. 



Public-comfort building and restaurant. — The need of a suitable 

 structure for a rest house and refreshment room is strongly felt. 

 This rest house should provide toilet facilities for both women and 

 men. It is probably true that the present restaurant occasions more 

 unfavorable comment from visitors than any other one feature in 

 the park. It is only a rude wooden platform with cover, but with 

 open sides; the kitchen and other facilities are inadequate, and the 

 entire structure is in a bad state of repair. 



