COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 111 



Yesterday, I was impressed with the testimony of Dr. Charyk and 

 Captain Albers and with the fact that they were being very clear and 

 frank about these matters. 



Senator Saltonstall, do you have any questions of these gentlemen ? 



Senator Saltonstall. I do not think, Mr. Chairman, that I have 

 any further questions. 



I assume, Mr. DeLong, that you are testifying here now as an ex- 

 pert on this type of structure, and from your experience in Texas 

 tower No. 2, because you did not have personal observation in Texas 

 tower No. 4 after you decided not to go forward with your bid due 

 to the method of installation. Is that correct ? 



Mr. DeLong. We did bid, Senator, with an alternate scheme of 

 building and erection. 



Senator Saltonstall. I could not hear that answer. 



Mr. DeLong. I said we did bid on Texas tower No. 4, with an alter- 

 nate scheme of erection and construction. 



Senator Saltonstall. So that when that alternate scheme was re- 

 fused, then you would no longer bid on the other scheme? 

 . Mr. DeLong. Sir, the alternate scheme was not refused. We were 

 just not low bidder. 



Senator Saltonstall. I see. So that your testimony here today is 

 as an expert in answering questions as to this method of building the 

 structure rather than from your own experience on the structure ? 



Mr. DeLong. We are here in answ^er to a subpena, and whether we 

 are experts I think would be a little hard for us to judge. We have 

 been living with these problems for 10 years, but they tell me that an 

 expert is a man away from home. 



Senator Stennis. Yes, Senator, you were detained on other matters. 

 The Chair stated in the beginning that Mr. DeLong was here under 

 a subpena of the committee because of his vast experience with and 

 knowledge of this type of construction. 



Senator Jackson, have you any questions ? 



Senator Jackson. Mr. Chairman, I merely want to associate myself 

 with the chairman. I think the witnesses here this morning have 

 presented this matter with great clarity and understanding. 



experience or de long corp. in orrsHORE platforms 



I might just ask this one question: How many of these towers have 

 you put up at sea, not necessarily radar towers but oil drilling and 

 other types of towers at sea, and how long have you been doing this ? 

 When did this idea start, in general? 



Mr. DeLong. Since 1949. 



Senator Jackson. How many have you put up, roughly ? 



Mr. DeLong. Senator, I am just making a guess — 50, 5.5. 



Senator Jackson. I take it you have had some experience. 



Mr. DeLong. I can assure you that we have had our problems, and 

 we anticipate that we are going to have some more as time goes along. 



Senator Jackson. How deep has the water been at some of the 

 platforms that you have put in? 



Mr. DeLong. We have worked one off the coast of California in 

 210 feet of water. At the present time, we are designing a structure 

 to lay a tunnel under the English Channel in 1§6 feet of water, building 

 submerged tunnel sections, and using a DeLong type platform. 



