Between the 15th and 20th of December, 1904, I came in possession of one of the catalogues that the Chicago House Wrecking Company sent out, showing all the property they had for disposal. It contained cuts and descriptions and computations that would take at least one month or more to compile and print. I have had considerable experience in getting up catalogues of material and property, and am confident that they could not have compiled all the figures, secured all the cuts and descriptions, and had the catalogue printed and on the market in a month's time.
I consider the manner in which the bids were handled very irregular, and that the awarding of the contract to the Chicago House Wrecking Company for $450,000, in view of the amount and value of the property turned over to them, as shown by their catalogue and their contract, to have been detrimental to the interests of the United States, the city of St. Louis, and the stockholders of the Exposition Company.
GEORGE J. SCHMITT.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of March, 1905. My commission expires on the 9th day of November, 1908.
[SEAL.] S.E. KELLOGG.
STATE OF ILLINOIS, County of Cook, 88:
Personally appeared before me this 28th day of March, 1905, Mr. John M.
Dunphy, who, being duly sworn, on his oath says:
My name is John M. Dunphy; I reside in the city of Chicago; I have resided here for the past forty-seven years. I was city treasurer of Chicago for one term; was commissioner of buildings for one term in this city; I have been engaged in the contracting business for the past forty years; I have been in the employ of Mr. S. Krug, contractor, of Chicago, for the past three years; I am very familiar with construction and wrecking work.
In regard to the sale of the salvage of the St. Louis Exposition I desire to make the following statement:
Through a friend, Mr. Krug received specifications and instructions for the wrecking and removal of certain buildings at the St. Louis Exposition. These specifications were obtained from Mr. Isaac S. Taylor, director of works of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. After we had looked over the specifications Mr. Krug suggested that we go to St. Louis and look over the plans and the buildings, with a view of submitting a bid on the work. Mr. Krug, Mr. Powers, and myself arrived in St. Louis on October 24, 1904. We 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.