8 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



Senator Stennis. All right. 



Mr. Charyk. The investigation, concluded in February, disclosed 

 that there were loose connections in the bracing on the A-B plane at 

 the —25-foot and — 75-foot levels. 



The original architect-engineering firm — Moran, Proctor, Mueser & 

 Rutledge — was contacted, and they recommended the installation of a 

 system of above- water bracing, which you can see in red on the model. 

 This major project, which involved the expenditure of over $500,000, 

 was completed by J. Rich Steers, Inc., in August ; and the tower was 

 certified by the architect-engineer as back to its original strength, 

 capable of withstanding 125-mile-per-hour winds and 35-foot breaking 

 waves. 



One month later, on September 12, 1960, Hurricane Donna struck 

 Texas tower No. 4 with winds up to 130 miles per hour and breaking 

 waves in excess of 50 feet. This storm virtually destroyed a mainte- 

 nance platform, which is indicated just below the platform on the 

 model, 60 feet above the water and severely damaged other portions 

 of the superstructure, as well as the newly installed above- water brac- 

 ing. The Air Force immediately authorized J. Rich Steers, Inc., to 

 initiate replacement of the maintenance platform, so that an under- 

 water inspection could be made. The platform was essential to the 

 conduct of underwater inspections. The platform w^as completed by 

 November 1, and underwater inspection began on the same day. Seri- 

 ous damage was discovered, all in the A-B plane, in the upper two 

 tiers of the underwater bracing. 



Moran, Proctor, Mueser & Rutledge was again consulted on how 

 best to fix the tower. Tlie plan, developed in a matter of days, was to 

 install cable bracing on the A-B plane from the —25- to the —125- 

 foot level, which would in effect bypass the damaged tiers ; and in con- 

 junction therewith to strengthen both the A and B legs. The cost 

 involved was estimated to be from $400,000 to $600,000. Pending the 

 fabrication of these cables, which were designed with a tensile strength 

 of 100,000 pounds per square inch, other underwater repairs were 

 commenced by J. Rich Steers, Inc., in addition to the above-water 

 repairs which that company had started right after Hurricane Donna, 

 without benefit of formal contract. 



On January 7, 1961, while underwater workers were readying the 

 A and B legs for installation of the cable bracing, the first of which 

 was scheduled for delivery later in that month, a new break was found 

 in the lowest tier of underwater bracing on the A-B plane. That is 

 the — 125-foot level. This break may have been caused by a severe 

 storm in December, which had winds to 90 miles per hour and waves 

 to 40 feet. 



On January 12, a meeting was held in the offices of the constnic- 

 tion contractor with architect-engineer and Air Force personnel in 

 attendance. It was agreed that, as a result of the new break, a new or 

 modified repair design would be necessary and more extensive work 

 than originally contemplated would be required. It was also decided 

 to complete certain work in progress and then to suspend further 

 repairs imtil the spring, when weather conditions would be more 

 favorable for underwater work. 



On January 14, and 5, the tower was battered by high winds, with 

 gusts up to 85 miles per hour, and heavy seas, with waves as high as 



