The complete establishment of the park in a manner befitting its national character will be a work of considerable time, and now that the natural beauties of the site are secured from the danger of destruction, it would seem best to set aside first some of the more attractive and picturesque parts of the grounds, into which the public may be admitted at an early day, and where the animals now on hand and shortly to be exhibited, will be cared for at a small part of the expense of opening the whole park. Nearly 40 acres, selected on account of accessibility and moderate elevation, as well as on account of being adapted to the purposes of the park without great expense, will be thus set aside for immediate improvement, while a tract of some 15 acres more will be so arranged that the public can ramble through it, although it will not have at first a strictly park-like and expensive cultivation. There will thus be opened to the public, it is hoped by next year, between 50 and 60 acres, which is an area larger than that of the zoological gardens in the Regent's Park of London, or of the Jardin des Plantes of Paris, and this will be done at a comparatively small cost. A distinct area of some 10 or 15 acres will be reserved in another portion of the park for administrative purposes, including a lodge for the resident superintendent, offices, stables, infirmary for animals, a proposed laboratory, and for other purposes requiring seclusion. The explanations accompanying the estimates given below are not submitted as forming the subject of specific itemized appropriations, but only as giving briefly the principal considerations which have determined the gross amounts asked for; and it is further desirable to remember that in an undertaking like this, where everything is untried, the precision of estimate attainable in long-established expenditures is not possible. Improvement and care of grounds.-The cost of improving this area of nearly 40 acres is estimated by Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted at about $2,700 per acre, exclusive of buildings and bridges. There is inclosed herewith a copy of his estimates (marked Exhibit 1 following) relating to the subject, from which it is hoped that some reductions may still be made in practice. It should, however, be remembered that the cost of improving Central Park, New York, has already been not less than $14,000 per acre, and that of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, $9,000 per acre, while that of the large Franklin Park, Boston, is estimated at $2,900 per acre. It is thought that at least $29,500 should be appropriated for this work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, and this amount is arrived at as follows: Items of the existing appropriation properly falling under this head: Buildings and inclosures.—It is desired to at first proceed only with work which is absolutely necessary to creditably exhibit the animals now in the possession of the H. Doc. 732-94 Government, and those which are to be, at any rate, expected in such a collection even at its first opening. Reliance is placed on the known disposition of the people of the country to donate specimens. The sums asked for animal houses are within those usually expended for structures of this character, and certainly far within what will ultimately be required; but for that reason, it is intended to arrange the actual buildings so that they can be enlarged in future years as money may be appropriated for the purpose. The sum asked for buildings and inclosures is $36,850, in detail as follows: Under way and projected: Fences for paths and for protection of grounds within park.. 3,000 Boundary fence for park.... 2,000 Holt house, repairing, and furniture.. 4,000 Stable and shed... 3,500 Infirmary for sick, disabled, and breeding animals. 1,500 Toolhouse, shops, and sheds... 2,000 Public-comfort pavilions, etc... 2,200 2,500 Items of the existing appropriation falling under this head: 62, 850 Item 2.—For shelter-barns, cages, fences, and inclosures, and $15,000 9,000 2,000 26, 000 36, 850 Amount recommended to be appropriated..... Maintenance and increase of collections.-It has been thought proper to group the regular current and incidental expenses of the park together, under head of maintenance and increase of collections. Forty-two thousand dollars were appropriated for this purpose last year, but it is thought that $35,000 will suffice for the fiscal year 1891-92, notwithstanding the increase in the collections which is expected. EXHIBIT 1. F. L. OLMSTED & Co., LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, Brookline, Massachusetts, October 1, 1890. DEAR SIR: At your request we submit the following approximate estimate of the cost of improving the National Zoological Park according to the plan which we had the honor to present on the 25th ultimo. This estimate assumes that suitable provision for the animals now on hand, or likely soon to be acquired, and for the convenience and enjoyment of the public, will require an area of about 37 acres to be brought into a condition generally similar to that of the better class of public parks of the country. In addition to such grading along roads and walks as is usual in parks, the item of earthwork includes the filling of the approaches to the bridge and the raising of the ground for the bear pits in the quarry to a level above that of the last great flood. Accurate detailed surveys and working drawings not having been yet prepared, the quantities noted in the estimate are to be regarded not as exact, but as liberal. The estimate does not include the buildings nor the bridge of the plan, it being assumed that the architect will inform you of the cost of these. The estimate does not include a fence along the boundary of the entire park, but it does allow for enough fencing to inclose that portion of the park which is to be improved, and for numerous paddocks for the animals. The prices assumed are those usual for good work done by contract in this vicinity. Prices in Washington will probably be found a little lower. 2,450 linear feet 6-inch vitrified sewer pipe, laid, at 50 cents.... 1,225 1,020 1,725 400 4,370 1,100 linear feet paved gutter (concourse and bridge approaches), at 60 cents. 660 1,100 linear feet curbing (concourse and bridge approaches), at 60 cents 660 37 acres, grubbing, surface grading, manuring, plowing, trenching, raking, seeding, and planting with trees and shrubs, at $500 an acre..... Miscellaneous: Seats, tools, signs, tree guards, rock work and concreting for bear pits, etc., also (in portions of park not covered by above estimate) forestry work, planting, and operations necessary to preserve ground from gullying and washing away 18,500 10,000 Add 10 per cent for plans, engineering, superintendence, and contingencies 91, 210 9, 121 Total.... 100, 331 The cost of suitably preparing public grounds under nearly all circumstances is much larger than the public is generally prepared to believe to be necessary, and it commonly occurs that the supposed excessive cost is attributed to a disposition to give them a highly artificial, ornamental character. For this reason we wish to state that in the plan to which the above estimate refers no ornamental gardening is had in view. Except a moderate amount of planting of common trees, bushes, and native hardy perennials, the only work provided for, other than that of necessary constructions in the form of roads, walks, gutters, drains, sewers, means of water supply and distribution, and other utilitarian features, is such grading as, in our judgment, is required to prevent these artificial elements of the park from becoming excessively conspicuous and harshly discordant with the native grace of the natural topography. In estimating the cost of grading, sewerage, and drainage, we have assumed that wherever the preliminary part of the work can be made to conform to the intention of the general and final plan such work should be of a permanent character. It may be questioned whether a saving could not be made in the quantity of earthwork had in view in the estimate. It could, but only by giving the slopes of the roads, for instance, a greater degree than we think desirable, of the manifestly artificial character which railroad embankments and military earthworks usually have, and which, in this case, in order to preserve an effect of natural topography, it is essential to avoid. The only items of the estimate that can, in our judgment, be materially reduced are these: 1. The water supply, by omitting the underground reservoir and the main leading to it from the buffalo house. 2. The fence, by providing smaller inclosures, and by having smaller and fewer paddocks, and perhaps, also, by using a form of construction that would require to be replaced after a few years. 3. The bear pits, by leaving them at their present level, subject to be overflowed by unusual freshets. 4. The bridge approaches, by substituting trestles for the earth filling had in view in the estimate. 5. By cultivating and otherwise preparing a somewhat smaller area of ground than that had in view. We are, very respectfully, your obedient servants, Prof. S. P. LANGLEY, F. L. OLMSTED & Co. Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. January 22, 1890-Senate. Mr. WILLIAM P. FRYE. I am instructed by the Committee on Foreign Relations to report a joint resolution (S. 49), and I am also instructed by the same committee to ask for its present consideration: That for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the convention between the United States of America, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Servia, and Spain, concluded at Brussels March 15, 1886, and ratified by the President July 19, 1888, the Public Printer is hereby authorized to supply to the international exchange office with due promptness a sufficient number of public documents, and that, to meet the additional expense entailed for clerk hire and postage, the sum of $2,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Passed. February 20, 1890-House. Mr. A. C. THOMPSON submitted report (H. 327) on S. 49. The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. 49), having duly considered the same, report as follows: By the terms of the convention mentioned, the Governments ratifying the same undertook "to have transmitted to the legislative chambers of each contracting State, as fast as their publication, a copy of the official journal, as well as of the parliamentary annals and documents which are given publicity." To fulfill this obligation on the part of the United States will require an expenditure for clerk hire, postage, etc., as estimated by the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, of $2,000 a year, which amount is appropriated by said resolution. Your committee recommend its passage. Committed to Committee of the Whole. April 11, 1890-House. Mr. ALBERT C. THOMPSON. I ask unanimous consent to discharge the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union from the consideration of the joint resolution (S. 49). I ask that it be considered at this time. The resolution was read. Mr. W. C. P. BRECKINRIDGE of Kentucky. I think we had better have the regular order. Mr. THOMPSON. Will the gentleman allow me to make a statement? Mr. BRECKINRIDGE of Kentucky. I have no objection to that, but I will state to my friend that I will call for the regular order. I do not think the gentleman will change my state of mind by his explanation. Mr. THOMPSON. This country has entered into a certain convention to exchange parliamentary documents, involving documents from all these nations with whom we are under treaty. Ours are ready to be sent out, but it needs this simple appropriation to pay the postage and transportation. The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution asks for this, and it is necessary. I therefore hope that the gentleman will not insist upon his objection. Mr. BRECKINRIDGE of Kentucky. I think we had better have the regular order. May 20, 1890. [Memorandum by Mr. S. P. Langley relative to the reimbursement of the Smithsonian fund for expenditures on account of Government exchanges sent to Hon. B. Butterworth, House of Representatives.] At a meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution on January 8, 1890, it was Resolved, That the Regents instruct the Secretary to ask of Congress legislation for the repayment to the Institution of the amount advanced from the Smithsonian fund for governmental service in carrying on the exchanges. |