28 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4. 



1ST NAVAL DISTRICT CONFERENCE FOR PROJECT BRIEFING 



Mr. Anderson. On March 26 we received a telephone call from Mr. 

 Seddon of the 1st Naval District requesting us to be present at a con- 

 ference at the 1st Naval District at 10 a.m., March 29, 1954. At this 

 conference Anderson-Nichols was represented by Messrs. E. R. An- 

 derson, John Minnich, Vincent K. Gates, and William F. Dewey. 

 There were present at the 1st Naval District, Commander Biggs, Lt. 

 Dave LaPorte, Commander Albers, Mr. John Taylor, and Mr. Swin- 

 dells, project managers. 



Senator Symington. Who was Mr. Swindells ? 



Mr. Anderson. He was a civilian employee at the 1st Naval Dis- 

 trict, and in this connection was assigned as the project manager who 

 would work as liaison between the 1st Naval District and the archi- 

 tect-engineers. 



Senator Symington. One other question, for clarification. You 

 have two commanders here and a lieutenant. Wlio was in charge of 

 the meeting for the Navy ? 



Mr. Anderson. I believe it was Commander Biggs. 



Senator Symington. You believe? 



Mr. Anderson. We do not have it in our notes as to who was the 

 chairman of that meeting. But as memory serves me, it was Com- 

 mander Biggs. 



Senator Symington. Thank you. 



Senator Stennis. All right, proceed, Mr. Anderson. 



Mr. Anderson. At this conference Commander Albers proceeded 

 to give a brief description of what the project would consist of; 

 briefly, there would be 5 towers involved approximately 75 to 100 

 miles off the coast, 3 to be in deep sand bottom, 1 in sand at 

 27 fathoms, 1, rock, 10 to 12 fathoms, and additional information 

 such as the number of personnel to be located on the tower, et cetera, 

 was given. 



After giving this preliminary information we were asked if we 

 would be interested in the project. Our reply was in the affirmative. 

 We were asked if our workload was such that it would permit us 

 starting promptly. Our answer was in the affirmative. We were 

 asked if our organization was cleared for security. Our answer was 

 in the affiiTnative. We were asked if the employment of consultants 

 would be objectionable to us. Our answer was that undoubtedlj^ we 

 would do so in any case. We further stated that we had been in 

 conference with Mr. Proctor of Moran, Proctor, Mueser and Rutledge 

 during which conference it was agreed that if we were awarded the 

 contract, Moran, Proctor, Mueser & Rutledge would carry the re- 

 sponsibility for the submarine foundation work and Anderson- 

 Nichols would carry the responsibility for the balance. 



Senator Symington. What do you mean by the submarine founda- 

 tion work? 



Mr. Anderson. I mean the design which is involved in what we 

 call the footings or foundations, starting at the sea bottom and what- 

 ever is necessary to go below the sea bottom to give a firm structure. 



Senator Symington. Starting at the sea bottom, and going below 

 the sea bottom ? 



Mr. Anderson. That is correct, sir. 



