REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 77 
street, would satisfy all the important needs of the park and give a 
frontage of over GOO feet on Connecticut Avenue. One of the princi- 
pal entrances to the park will always be from Connecticut Avenue 
and the importance of a frontage on that thoroughfare at and border- 
ing the gate can not be overestimated. The necessary land can now 
be purchased for about $80,000, and should be acquired before it is 
too late. 
Alteration of the southeastern boundary. — The question of the pur- 
chase of a narrow strip of land between the park and Adams Mill 
Eoad, from Clydesdale Place to Ontario Road, still in private owner- 
ship, is now brought forcibly to our attention because of improve- 
ments being made at that point by the District government. As this 
newly developed section of Adams Mill Road will doubtless become 
one of the most used highways connecting the park systems, and as 
the privately owned strip is within a few feet of the Adams Mill 
Road entrance to the park, the need for public ownership can not be 
questioned. The amount required is comparatively small and the 
purchase of the land should not long be delayed, as the bordering 
road is soon to be opened, and the ownership of the narrow strip by 
the Government and its incorporation within the park is of very 
great interest to the public. 
Restaurant. — One of the most urgent needs of the park is a suitable 
restaurant. The present refreshment stand is entirely inadequate and 
is in a very bad state of repair. On any of the days of reasonably 
large attendance the public can be only poorly served and the facili- 
ties of the stand are overtaxed. It is believed that a suitable building, 
on the present site, 50 by 100 feet in size, and of two floors, one open- 
ing onto the lower slope to the west, would meet the requirements. 
Such a building, properly equipped and under first-class manage- 
ment, would be greatly appreciated by the constantly increasing num- 
ber of visitors to the park. 
Grading hanhs and flTling ravines. — The work of further cutting 
away the irregular hill in the center of the western part of the park 
and the filling in of a near-by ravine, commenced three years ago but 
discontinued for lack of funds, should be completed as soon as prac- 
ticable. Level spaces for yards and inclosures are very much needed, 
and the work as left makes an unsightly and unfinished looking 
place in one of the most conspicuous points in the park, bordering on 
the main road. Completion of the work will level nearly 70,000 
square feet of ground which is now of little use, make available a 
further 25,000 square feet of ground at the ravine, and eliminate a 
dangerous curve in the automobile road. 
Purchase of animals. — A sufficient sum for the purchase and trans- 
portation of animals has never been available and is greatly to be 
