48 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO, 4 



for construction ; and two civilian specialists, Mr. Gordon C. Edwards, 

 construction management engineer ; and Mr. James Ayers, underwater 

 consultant, Bureau of Yards and Docks. 



Senator Saltonstall. Will all these gentlemen testify ? 



Captain Davis. I would request, please, that they be sworn in case 

 they have to testify. 



Senator Saltonstall. Do you solemnly swear that the evidence you 

 shall give in this hearing shall be the truth, the whole truth, and 

 nothing but the truth, so help you God ? 



Admiral Church. I do. 



Captain Albers. I do. 



Mr. Ayers. I do. 



Mr. Edwards. I do. 



TESTIMONY OF CAPT. JOHN J. ALBERS (CEC), TJ.S.N.; REAR ADM. 

 W. C. G. CHURCH (CEC), U.S.N., ASSISTANT CHIEF, BUREAU OF 

 YARDS AND DOCKS; JAMES AYERS, UNDERWATER CONSULTANT; 

 AND GORDON C. EDWARDS, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ENGI- 

 NEER; ACCOMPANIED BY CAPT. WILL J. DAVIS, U.S. NAVY, 

 LEGAL OFFICER, BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS 



Senator Saltonstall. Now, Captain Albers, do you have a pre- 

 pared statement ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir ; I do, principally it is an introduction of 

 myself and my qualifications. 



Senator Saltonstall. Tlien will you proceed with the reading of 

 your statement ? 



Captain Albers. Currently, I am assigned as public works officer 

 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and resident officer in charge 

 of construction in the Bremerton, Wash., area. 



I have been a ci\il engineer since graduation from Vanderbilt Uni- 

 versity in 1933, and have had 20 years' experience in the Civil Engi- 

 neer Corps of the Navy, much of which has been spent in the field of 

 heavy marine construction including drydocks, breakwaters, quay- 

 walls, and piers. I have with me a detailed resume of my background 

 which I will gladly submit if the committee wishes. 



As deputy district public works officer. First Naval District, Boston, 

 Mass., during initial phases of the Texas tower program and as officer 

 in charge of construction of Texas tower contracts from January 1955 

 through December 1956, I was responsible for both the design and 

 construction of Texas towers No. 2 and No. 3, and the design only 

 of Texas tower No. 4. 



I was one of the members of the board designated to recommend 

 the architect and engineering group which was selected for the work 

 and which ultimately prepared the feasibility study and later the 

 design for all of the towers. 



The selected joint venture composed of Anderson-Nichols of Bos- 

 ton, and Moran, Proctor, Mneser & Riitledge, New York, was con- 

 sidered eminently qualified for a project of this nature. Anderson- 

 Nichols had considerable experience and reputation as industrial 

 engineers in the design and layout of equipment and electrical sys- 



