The time limit set for the removal of the buildings and debris was short—­namely, three months—­and no one could make a reasonable bid.  I made my bid in the sum of only $50,000 for that reason, and accompanied same by a certified check for $25,000, as required by the Exposition Company.

The bids were to be opened at 12 o’clock noon of November 10.  I, with a number of other bidders, was present in an anteroom adjoining the office of Mr. Isaac S. Taylor, director of works.  The bids were not opened at the appointed hour, and we waited there for three hours and until 3 o’clock.  We expected the bids to be opened in public, as is done by the United States Government and the city when they dispose of large properties.  We were called into Mr. Taylor’s office and were informed by President D.R.  Francis that the bids would not be opened in public, but in private.  I immediately arose and offered an objection to this mode of procedure, as I did not think it was the proper way to handle the matter.  I told them what I thought of the whole proposition.  My protest was a vigorous one.  A Mr. Harris, a representative of the Chicago House Wrecking Company, immediately arose and stated that he desired to have his bid kept secret.  Mr. Francis overruled my objection and sustained Mr. Harris.  Mr. Francis asked the other bidders present what they desired as to the manner of handling the bids, and they all stated that the bids should be opened in public and not in private.  Not only as a contractor, but as a stockholder of the Exposition Company, I demanded that the bids be opened publicly, in a straightforward manner.  We were instructed to go out into the anteroom and remain until called for.  About fifteen minutes later I was recalled alone to the meeting room of the salvage committee, where President Francis questioned me in regard to the $50,000 bid, and asked whether I could remove the property in the time limit set.  I informed the gentlemen that I could make my bid considerably higher if I was granted more time in which to remove the debris.  President Francis asked me how much more I could bid, and I told him I could not state offhand.  The conditions as to the removal of the wreckage in the specified time, namely, three months, were somewhat prohibitive, as it would be impossible to fulfill the requirements without an enormous expense.  It would be well-nigh impossible to get sufficient men and teams on the work to complete the same in the specified time.  President Francis stated to me that it was probable that all the bids would be rejected.  I requested him to ask for new bids, which were to be opened in public, or that the property be sold at public auction.  I saw by the newspapers a few days later that all bids had been rejected, and my check for $25,000 was returned to me.  I later saw by the papers that the Exposition Company contemplated forming a company among the directors and wreck the buildings themselves and dispose of the salvage.  Later on I saw in the papers that the Chicago House Wrecking Company was figuring to buy all the World’s Fair property, and was about to close a deal for the purchase of the salvage in the sum of $386,000.