material themselves.  Mr. Krug studied awhile and said that he would be willing to do the work for President Francis, but it would take him some time to figure on the proposition so as to submit an intelligent figure.  President Francis said that if they decided to wreck the buildings themselves on a contract that he would let him know when his bid would be wanted.  At this time President Francis requested Mr. Krug to submit in writing his bid for $76,600 and have it in by 10 o’clock the next morning.  We then left the room, and they requested us to remain in the anteroom.  We were there until about 6 o’clock.  During that time they called in other bidders.  About 6 o’clock Mr. Taylor’s secretary came into the room and announced that the salvage committee had adjourned until the next day at 2 p. m.  We then left the grounds and went to the Lindell Hotel.  When we reached the hotel that night we made up a revised bid.  The next day we went to Mr. Taylor’s office about 10 a. m. and gave to Mr. Taylor’s clerk the bid in writing for $76,600, and he said he would bring it to the attention of the committee when they met.  We waited there from 10 a. m. until 2 p. m.  In the meantime Mr. Krug sent in his card to Mr. Taylor’s office and asked if any action would be taken on the bids that afternoon.  We were informed that nothing would be done with the bids that day, and that the salvage committee had adjourned until the following Monday.  I left St. Louis that night for Chicago.  I returned to St. Louis on Monday, November 14, 1904, arriving there at 10 a. m.  Mr. Krug remained in St. Louis all the time.  When I returned to St. Louis Mr. Krug and I went to Mr. Taylor’s office.  We reached there about 10 a. m., Monday, November 14.  We waited there until about 2.30 or 3 p. m.  While we were waiting in the anteroom Mr. Taylor’s private secretary came in and told us that all bids had been rejected.  We then left the grounds, and Mr. Krug and I returned to Chicago that night.

I never saw by the papers or otherwise where new bids were requested after the announcement that the first bids had been rejected.  I watched the papers very closely, as we were desirous of submitting a new bid when called for.

From what I saw while I was in the anteroom and in the committee room I am fully convinced that the Chicago House Wrecking Company was given inside information as to what property was to be sold, and I consider that they were given privileges and favored from the beginning of the deal, in view of the fact that a majority of the bidders desired their bids opened in public, while the Harris brothers protested against such procedure, and they were sustained in their protest by the salvage committee.

I have had considerable experience in handling bids and being present when bids are opened, and I never before saw such proceedings as took place in the meeting room of the salvage committee on November 10, 1904.