called at Mr. Taylor’s office that day.  I asked for Mr. Taylor, but was informed by some clerk there that Mr. Taylor was too busy and could not see us.  I talked with his secretary, Mr. Carl Hoblitzelle, in the presence of Mr. Krug and Mr. Powers.  He told us he could answer all questions.  I told him I wanted to look at the plans, as we desired to figure on some of the buildings that were to be disposed of.  He took us into another room where the plans were stored and introduced us to some gentleman in charge there.  I requested the plans from this gentleman.  I asked for the plans for the Agricultural and Horticultural buildings.  After we had finished looking these two plans over I looked around for the young man to ask for more plans, but could not find him, and we went to the shelves and got down the plans ourselves.

While we were there looking over the plans some gentleman came into the room and spoke to Mr. Krug.  Later on I asked Mr. Krug who the gentleman was, and he told me it was a Mr. Frank Harris, of the Chicago House Wrecking Company.  Mr. Krug further stated that Mr. Harris was a resident of Chicago, but was then interested in the Ferris Wheel at the exposition.  We remained in St. Louis for two days longer looking over the plans and buildings, and then returned to Chicago.  I never saw any notice in the newspaper requesting sealed proposals for the wrecking and removal of the exposition buildings.  The first I knew about it was when Mr. Krug received the specifications from his friend.  We talked over the matter of submitting bids on the work.  On the 9th of November, 1904; Mr. Krug and Mr. Schmitt, a bookkeeper for Mr. Krug, went to St. Louis to submit a bid on the work, according to the specifications and instructions prepared by Mr. Taylor, director of works.  The bids were to be in Mr. Taylor’s office by 12 o’clock noon Thursday, November 1 1904.  Mr. Schmitt returned to Chicago on Friday night.  Mr. Krug remained in St. Louis.  Mr. Schmitt went to St. Louis again on Monday, November 14.  On Tuesday, November 15, Mr. Krug and Mr. Schmitt returned to Chicago and told me that all the bids had been rejected.  Mr. Krug desired that some one be on the ground to look after his interests, and suggested that I go to St. Louis and keep in touch with affairs there and try and ascertain what was going on.  I left Chicago for St. Louis on Sunday, November 20, 1904, and arrived at St. Louis morning of November 21.  After I was informed that all bids had been rejected I did not see any published notice requesting additional or new bids, although I watched the papers pretty close and tried to keep in touch with what was going on.  I went to Mr. Taylor’s office several times while I was there and sent in my card, as agent for Mr. Krug.  I was informed each time by some clerk in the office that Mr. Taylor was busy and could not see me.  I remained in St. Louis until the evening of November 26, when I was compelled to return to Chicago.  I requested Mr. Wm. H. Ranstead, a