66 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4i 



Captain Albers. It was indicated to me that, if they were the suc- 

 cessful bidder, they would offer a substitute method of erection. 



Mr. Kendall. Was the gentleman that, you had these discussions 

 with Mr. Suderow ? 



Captain Albers. I think perhaps it was ; I cannot remember. I had 

 many discussions with several members of the firm. 



Mr. Kendall. Let me ask you this. Was there any understandiiig 

 with you or any other officer or, as far as you know, any representative 

 of the architects and engineers in advance of the bidding, that, if 

 Belong was a successful bidder, the method he would recommend 

 would be accepted and permitted ? 



Captain Albers. No, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. You know of no such understanding? 



Captain Albers. That is correct. 



Mr. Kendali.. But there was discussion of this? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir, we discussed the pros and cons and vari- 

 ous and sundry ways of erecting this. 



BELONG CORP. OBJECTS TO DESIGN AND METHOD OF ERECTION OF TOWER 



NO. 4 



Mr. Kendall. It is tiTie that Delong or his representative voiced 

 very strong objections to the method of design and method of con- 

 struction and erection? 



Captain Albers. That is true. 



Mr. Kendall. And it is true that Delong was in this field longer 

 than any of the others, and was probably the first builder of a Texas 

 tower ? 



Captain Albers. In the field of Texas towers, his firm, together with 

 Raymond Concrete Pile Co., had erected the only Texas tower. 



Mr. Kendall. Actually, Delong also built Texas tower No. 2; 

 did he not ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Was that a bid proposition or a negotiated contract? 



Captain Albers. Negotiated contract, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Would not it be fair to say. Captain, that if DeLong 

 had been a successful bidder, this method of construction and erection 

 would not have been utilizecl on Texas tower No, 4? 



Captain Albers. I do not think I can a^ree with that, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Well, do you disagree with it ? 



Captain Albers. I disagree witli it. 



MR. THEODORE KUSS EMPLOYED BY DESIGN ENGINEERS 



Mr. Kendall. Wlien and how did Mr. Tlieodore Kuss get in the 

 picture as an employee of the Moran, Proctor fiiTu ? 



Captain Albers. He first became associated with them about March 

 of 1956. 



Mr. Kendall. Had you known him prior to that time ? 



Captain Albers. I had known him 20 years before, yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Had you known him during the intervening years, 

 or was 20 years before the last time you had had any acquaintance 

 with him? 



