les,
and other physical property, is still in the possession of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company.

At the meeting of the board of directors held December 13,
fifty-four members of the board being present, the
recommendation of the committee on salvage, approved by the
executive committee, that the physical property be sold to the
Chicago House Wrecking Company for $450,000, was approved. Not
only was the vote unanimous, but the terms of the sale were made
the subject of much congratulation by directors. No word of
protest or of adverse criticism by any director of the
Exposition Company is of record in the proceedings of the board
and of the several committees or has come to the knowledge of
the officers of the Exposition Company.

The salvage committee, before arriving at terms of sale, as the
records show, held many meetings and resorted to various methods
to elicit proposals for the property. Early in October sealed
bids were invited for the wrecking and removal of the exhibit
buildings. These advertisements were published in daily papers
and in technical journals not confined to St. Louis. In addition
to the advertising, circular letters were sent out to a long
list of addresses of persons who had from time to time addressed
letters on the subject of the salvage or parts of it to the
exposition. Correspondence was taken up by the director of works
with persons and firms in various parts of the country who were
known to be in the wrecking business. Specifications were
prepared and furnished to all who desired them.

On the 10th of November bids were opened by the committee on
salvage. They were of very unsatisfactory character. Most of the
bidders selected single exhibit buildings or small groups of
minor buildings. The highest bid for all of the exhibit
buildings opened that date was $50,000. One bid of $325,000 was
made for "buildings, structures, salvage of all kinds, and all
property owned by the Exposition Company." On the 12th of
November the salvage committee rejected all bids. During the
following two weeks the salvage committee held frequent
meetings. Hearings were given by officers of the exposition to
all persons desiring to negotiate for salvage. By wire and by
mail persons and firms who might be interested were advised that
the property