, two hospitals complete, 2,000 folding
cots, 2,500 opera chairs, 400 revolving chairs, 25,000 kitchen chairs,
200 roller-top desks, 300 flat-top desks, 200 typewriter desks, the
brick in the roadways, and the various buildings, or numerous other
valuable articles and pieces of property.

About 8.30 a. m. Thursday, December 1, Mr. Dunphy, my agent, called up
Mr. Holmes's residence to find out what Mr. Holmes knew about the
disposition of the bids. He was told by some lady who answered the
telephone that Mr. Holmes was on his way to his office. He came and told
me that Mr. Holmes was on his way to his office. I requested Mr. Dunphy
to go to Mr. Holmes's office and try and ascertain what the committee
had done about the bids. Later in the day Mr. Dunphy came to me and told
me that Mr. Holmes had told him that the contract had been awarded to
the Chicago House Wrecking Company between the hours of 6 and 7 p. m. of
November 30.

On December 3, 1904, I addressed a letter to President Francis in which
I offered him $199,000 for all railroad iron and ties and all wire in
and about the exposition grounds. I also, in the same letter, offered to
pay him $101,000 for the buildings, fences, bridges, and intramural
stations on the exposition grounds, which would total $300,000.

On December 5 I addressed a letter to President Francis as follows:

St. Louis, _December 5, 1904._

Dear Sir: Since I have made an examination of the property
belonging to the Exposition Company I find a great deal more
property than was stated to me at your meeting last Wednesday.
If you will furnish me with a correct list of the property I
think now that I can make you a bid of from $400,000 to $450,000
for same, half cash, balance to be paid when property is turned
over. I am prepared to make my bid in three hours after I
receive a list of the property. Should my proposition meet with
your consideration call me up at the Lindell Hotel and I will
call for the copy at once.

Yours, truly,
S. Krug.

Hon. D.R. Francis,
_President Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company,
St. Louis, Mo._

I never received a reply to either of the letters referred to.

In the specifications as prepared by Mr. Taylor it was stipulated that a
charge of $6 per car would be made for switching empty cars into the
exposition grounds, while I notice the contract between the Chicago
House Wrecking Company provid