I am of the opinion that had the Exposition Company properly prepared a list of its properties and holdings and furnished the prospective bidders with such lists and an opportunity for the examination of the articles mentioned therein, together with a reasonable period of time for removal of the buildings and debris, they could easily have obtained $750,000.

I have obtained a more comprehensive knowledge of the amount and character of the material and property since put into the hands of the Chicago House Wrecking Company, and am of the opinion that at the time the contract was made with the Chicago House Wrecking Company the property sold represented a value in excess of $1,000,000.

There was present in the office of Mr. Taylor, director of works, at the time the bids were to be opened the following members of the salvage committee:  President Francis, Director of Works Taylor, John A. Holmes, Mr. Samuel Kennard, and Mr. John Scullin.

Had I been furnished with a list of all the properties that I have since learned was acquired by the Chicago House Wrecking Company I would have gladly submitted a bid in the amount of $500,000.

C.L.  MCDONALD.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of March, 1905.  My commission expires on the 22d day of January, 1909. [SEAL.] IRA C. MONEY, Notary Public, City of St. Louis, Mo.

STATE OF ILLINOIS, County of Cook, ss: 

Before me this the 28th day of March, 1905, personally appeared Mr. S.
Krug, who, being duly sworn, on his oath says: 

My name is S. Krug.  I am a resident of Chicago.  Have resided here for the past thirty-seven years.  For the past twenty-seven years I have been engaged in the excavating and sand business.  During this time I have also been engaged on contracts for wrecking large buildings.  I wrecked the First National Bank Building, the Metropolitan Building, the Montauk Block; Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett store, and numerous other large buildings in Chicago.

In regard to the sale of the World’s Fair salvage at St. Louis I will make the following statement: 

I was told by a friend of mine that bids had been requested for wrecking and removal of certain World’s Fair buildings at St. Louis, and that specifications and instructions could be obtained from Mr. Isaac S. Taylor, director of works.  For business reasons I did not wish the Exposition Company to know that I wanted to figure on the contract.  I asked a friend of mine to procure a copy of the specifications for me.  It was necessary for him to deposit $10 for the specifications.  He sent the specifications to me.  Mr. John M. Dunphy, who is in my employ, and I went over the specifications at length and studied them pretty thoroughly.  The specifications only referred to exhibit buildings, band stands, fire-department houses, live-stock barns, dairy barns, Festival Hall, fuel building, terrace of States, and toilet-room buildings.