directors that the property, with certain exceptions, be sold to the Chicago House Wrecking Company for $450,000.  From this sale were excepted the intramural cars and equipments, the property of the General Service Company, and certain other items, which are specified in the contract of sale.

For the cars and equipments the Exposition Company, as shown by the report of the auditor forwarded monthly to the National Commission, has received about $150,000.  The property of the General Service Company, including buildings, horses, vehicles, and other physical property, is still in the possession of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company.

At the meeting of the board of directors held December 13, fifty-four members of the board being present, the recommendation of the committee on salvage, approved by the executive committee, that the physical property be sold to the Chicago House Wrecking Company for $450,000, was approved.  Not only was the vote unanimous, but the terms of the sale were made the subject of much congratulation by directors.  No word of protest or of adverse criticism by any director of the Exposition Company is of record in the proceedings of the board and of the several committees or has come to the knowledge of the officers of the Exposition Company.

The salvage committee, before arriving at terms of sale, as the records show, held many meetings and resorted to various methods to elicit proposals for the property.  Early in October sealed bids were invited for the wrecking and removal of the exhibit buildings.  These advertisements were published in daily papers and in technical journals not confined to St. Louis.  In addition to the advertising, circular letters were sent out to a long list of addresses of persons who had from time to time addressed letters on the subject of the salvage or parts of it to the exposition.  Correspondence was taken up by the director of works with persons and firms in various parts of the country who were known to be in the wrecking business.  Specifications were prepared and furnished to all who desired them.

On the 10th of November bids were opened by the committee on salvage.  They were of very unsatisfactory character.  Most of the bidders selected single exhibit buildings or small groups of minor buildings.  The highest bid for all of the exhibit buildings opened that date was $50,000.  One bid of $325,000 was made for “buildings, structures, salvage of all kinds, and all property owned by the Exposition Company.”  On the 12th of November the salvage committee rejected all bids.  During the following two weeks the salvage committee held frequent meetings.  Hearings were given by officers of the exposition to all persons desiring to negotiate for salvage.  By wire and by mail persons and firms who might be interested were advised that the property was being offered for sale.  Proposals were invited