REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



The appropriation made for the park for the fiscal year ending June 

 30, 1896, was in the following - terms: 



National Zoological Park: For continuing the construction of roads, 

 walks, bridges, water supply, sewerage, and drainage; and for grading, 

 planting, and otherwise improving the grounds; erecting and repairing 

 buildings and inclosures for animals; and for administrative purposes, 

 care, subsistence, and transportation of animals, including salaries or 

 compensation of all necessary employees, and general incidental ex- 

 penses not otherwise provided for, fifty-five thousand dollars, one half 

 of which sum shall be paid from the revenues of the District of Colum- 

 bia and the other half from the Treasury of the United States; for con- 

 tinuing the entrance into the Zoological Park from Woodley Lane, and 

 opening driveway into Zoological Park, from said entrance along the 

 west bank of Pock Creek, five thousand dollars, to be immediately 

 available, which sum is hereby appropriated out of any money in the 

 Treasury not otherwise appropriated, one-half chargeable to the reve- 

 nues of the District of Columbia. And of the sum hereby appropri- 

 ated live thousand dollars shall be used toward the construction of a 

 road from the Holt Mansion entrance (on Adams Mill road) into the 

 park to connect with the roads now in existence, including a bridge 

 across Pock Creek. 



The greater part of this sum has necessarily been spent in the main- 

 tenance of the collection and iu the care of the buildings and grounds. 

 It should not be forgotten that the preservation and maintenance of 

 the native beauty of the region in which the park is situated was one 

 of the primary objects had in view at the time of its establishment. 

 In consequence of this, great care has always been exercised to inter- 

 fere as little as possible with the natural features, though roads and 

 walk's following easy gradients and convenient for the public must 

 necessarily be made through the park. 



The adjustment of the boundaries of the park to conform to the 

 newly devised system of highways that has been proposed for the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia has not yet been made. Since the date of the last 

 report the roadways on the western side have received attention, audit 

 is supposed that they are now definitely settled about the entire circuit 

 of the park. It would seem, therefore, that the present is a proper 

 lime to make such final adjustments in the boundary as may seem 

 desirable. The accompanying map shows the proposed roadways near 

 the park. 



The remarks made in last year's report with regard to changes upon 

 (lie eastern side are still applicable in the main, and maybe profitably 

 repeated: . 



Plans for a system of roadways for the District have been completed 

 fur that section lying to the eastward of the park. Here a broad street, 

 to lie known as the "Park Drive," reaches the boundary of the park 

 at its southeastern corner and thence proceeds along the eastern side 

 by gen lie curves adapted to the topography of the region, as shown 

 upon the accompanying plan. The establishment of this road will 

 greatly improve the access to the park, which has always suffered 

 from the steep grades that are necessary for descent into the valley 



