COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 57 



Why did you have to make this Texas tower No. 4, different in its 

 construction from the other two? I realize that you drove it down 

 into the sand. When you got it into the sand, why was it necessary 

 to have it different ? 



DEPTH OF WATER REQUIRED DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION 



Captain Albers. Because of the extreme depth of the water, Sen- 

 ator. This was in 180 feet of water. The others were in 55 and 85 

 feet of water, respectively. 



The water depth at the site of this tower is quite different, and these 

 legs are quite long. They are 250 feet long from here to the ground 

 [indicating] , and needed some support laterally. 



Senator Saltonstall. Did you consider, in approving of this par- 

 ticular design, the question of the additional stress on the three legs 

 of these braces that you put in between ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. When you say "Yes, sir," would you give 

 the reason ? 



Captain Albers. If I understood the question, Senator, did we 

 consider the pressure of the water on the braces as they affected the 

 tower ? Was that the question ? 



Senator Saltonstall. Yes. I know the tide does not run very 

 high out there, but there is a certain amount of water pressure all 

 the time on those braces. Of course, when there is a sea running 

 or a high wind, there must be a tremendous amount of additional 

 pressure on those braces. 



Captain Albers. That was considered, sir. The tide there is about 

 4 knots. Most of the wave action, however, is above the elevation 

 of the braces. That is why they were placed below water and none 

 above water. 



Senator Saltonstall. Did the Navy make any underwater inspec- 

 tion after these legs were in place and if so, how many ? 



Captain Albers. Senator, I am not in a position to answer that. 

 I was not out there, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. Who will be in a position to answer? 

 Commander Foster ? 



Captain Albers. Commander Foster. I was detached and out of 

 the country by that time. 



Senator Saltonstall. You take responsibility for the design ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. And in your opinion, as an engineer of the 

 Navj'-, you determined that that design could stand the stresses and 

 strains of a heavy storm in that location ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. You believed it could ? 



Captain Albers. I believed it could, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Stennis. Thank you, sir. Captain, I would like to know 

 just what you mean when you say you take the responsibility for 

 the design ? Are you an engineer ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



