Park Department 
31 
Through the co-operation of the Superintendent of the 
Workhouse two pair of deer from that institution were trans- 
ferred to this park. This was done after having all the gates 
fitted with turnstiles, a feature that worked some inconvenience 
to people with baby carriages, as we could arrange but two 
gates for their use. These deer furnished great amusement 
to the children, who delighted in watching and feeding the 
animals. 
We found, however, that the keeping of such animals was 
very prohibitive for the reason that a certain class of people 
took advantage of the fact that they were tame, and would 
chase them out of the park in order to get a reward for re- 
turning them. Therefore, while it added a great deal of in- 
terest to the park to have the deer there, the above-mentioned 
reasons made it unwise to attempt to retain them longer. 
According to the reports from the watchman on duty while 
the park was open all night during July and August, some 
5,000 people took advantage of the cooler conditions prevailing 
there to sleep upon the benches in the park, instead of trying 
to spend the night in hot tenements. This opportunity to sleep 
under pleasant conditions was a boon to man}^ persons, and 
was much appreciated. 
The walks in this park are in immediate need of resurfac- 
ing. Owing to the excessive use they are subjected to, I 
would recommend that funds be supplied to resurface them 
with Kentucky rock asphalt, or some other material equally 
as good. I make this recommendation because of the fact 
that gravel Avalks in parks that are patronized as largely as 
is Lincoln Park, are very unsatisfactory, especially during 
winter months or rainy seasons. 
A large number of ducks and three pair of swans were 
purchased by the Lincoln Park Concert Association and pre- 
sented to the Park Department during the past year, and an 
additional pair of peafowls added also. They have proven 
very interesting features, and especially do the children take 
great interest in feeding them and in watching the swans 
glide gracefully through the water. 
The above-named association assisted me in arranging 
three band concerts, all of which were attended b_v from twelve 
