COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 49 



terns and Moran, Proctor, Mueser & Eutledge of New York City are 

 internationally known engineering consultants in the field of marine 

 structures. 



The designers, after extensive research and consultation with many 

 oceanographic authorities, developed the wave and wind criteria and 

 design procedures which were approved by myself, the District 

 Public Works Officer, 1st Naval District, the Bureau of Yards and 

 Docks and the U.S. Air Force. 



APPROVAL OF DESIGN CRITERIA 



I would like to interrupt myself at this time because that appears 

 to be in conflict with the testimony of the Secretary. 



By that, I mean that the Air Force did approve the feasibility re- 

 port, which included as a portion of it these design criteria. 



I interpret that as meaning they approved. 



Likewise, they were reviewed by Bretschneider and Reid of Texas 

 A. & M., eminent experts in the field of oceanography, who con- 

 curred with the established criteria. The structural members were 

 so designed that the stresses resulting from the application of the 

 wind and wave criteria were kept Avithin normal engineering limits. 

 In short, we took pains to insure that the structural members would 

 not be overstressed. 



KNOWLEDGE LIMITED CONCERNING STRUCTURES BUILT IN OPEN OCEAN 



It should be noted that these towers were the first structures ever 

 built in the open ocean anywhere and that very little reliable data 

 existed at that time on wave heights and wave forces to be expected at 

 sea. Although experience on the Texas towers has increased our 

 knowledge in this area, it is still very limited today. 



Previous experience with offshore oil drilling platforms in the Gulf 

 of Mexico was reviewed in detail but was of limited value due to the 

 much more severe wave conditions expected in the Atlantic Ocean. 



Therefore, data was solicited and obtained from all knov/n 

 authoritative sources on which to base design criteria. 



Competitive bids were received on November 1, 1955, for the con- 

 struction of Texas towers Nos. 1, 3 and 4. The bids were submitted 

 to the Bureau of Yards and Docks and, in turn, to the U.S. Air Force, 

 which Department then allocated funds for the construction of only 

 towers No. 3 and No. 4. 



A lump sum contract was then awarded to the joint venture of J. 

 Eich Steers of New York and Morrison-Knudsen of Boise, Idaho, 

 both very reputable heavy construction contractors and who had sub- 

 mitted the low bid for these towers. 



I would like to emphasize that these towers were unique in engineer- 

 ing history and presented many design and construction problems 

 never experienced before. 



All firms directly associated with the program were established con- 

 cerns, well qualified in their respective fields. 



I trust we can establish to the satisfaction of all concerned that the 

 tragic loss of Texas tower No. 4 was more an act of God than of man. 



It is my understanding that there will be a movie now, sir. 



