as they came out we went in.  We were asked if we had prepared our bid.  I handed the bid to Mr. Francis, who in turn handed it to Mr. Kennard, who opened it and read it aloud.  The bid was for $101,000.  This was only for the buildings, as shown by the specifications, and on the intramural stations, bridges, and fences, it being agreed during the talk in the morning that these latter items should be included.  President Francis then told Mr. Krug that he could not wait until Friday for the bid on the railroad steel and the copper wire; that it would have to be in by 11 p.m. that night, and that the salvage committee would be in session until that hour.  He said, “To-morrow is the closing day of the Fair—­Francis Day—­and I will be very busy.”  During our talk there then, President Francis told Mr. Krug that he had made a mistake that morning in saying there were 2,000 tons of steel rail; that there were 4,000 tons.  Mr. Krug then asked for a list of the rails and wire, or rather for a statement of the amount they had purchased, so he could figure on it, but he was unable to get same.  We then left the fair grounds and went to the Lindell Hotel.  As we were leaving the room President Francis asked our names and where we were stopping, and stated they would call us up over the telephone during the evening.  When we arrived at the hotel we held a conference and agreed on a new bid.  I went to the telephone at about 7.30 p.m. and called up Mr. Taylor’s office.  I was informed by the party who answered the telephone that the salvage committee had adjourned at 7 o’clock.  I presumed they had adjourned to get something to eat and would return shortly.  About 8.30 p.m.  I again called up Mr. Taylor’s office and was informed that, the salvage committee had adjourned at 7 p.m. and would not be back that night.  Shortly after this I called up President Francis’s house and was informed that he was not at home.  I then called up Mr. Taylor’s house and was told that he was not at home.  About 10 p.m.  I called up Mr. Holmes’s residence and was informed that Mr. Holmes had gone to bed.  I tried every way I could to reach some member of the salvage committee, but could not.  The next morning, December 1, about 8.30 a.m., I called up Mr. Holmes’s house and was informed that Mr. Holmes was then on his way to his office.  I told Mr. Krug this, and he suggested that I go to Mr. Holmes’s office and see him.  I went to the office of Mr. Holmes and waited there some time.  I think I was there about thirty minutes before he came in.  When he came he invited me into his private office.  I asked him what the salvage committee had done about the bids.  He asked, “Did they not call you up?” I said “No; nobody called us up.”  He said, “Why, that is singular; it was understood that they would call you up before doing anything.”  I told him that I had telephoned the office of Mr. Taylor the night before, and was informed that the salvage committee had adjourned at 7 o’clock.