COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 127 



immediate touch with events thereafter. I transferred from the plat- 

 form to the legs for the final tow to the exact site and the upending 

 process. 



Immediately after the brace casualty, I was careful to listen, rather 

 than talk about it with the contractor's people. I should like to em- 

 phasize that at that point the tower still belonged to the contractor 

 and the decision as to what to do next was his and not the Govern- 

 ment's, through me as the Govermnent's representative. I was not, 

 nor is any military engineer on a contract project, the boss or job 

 superintendent. I was there more in the role of inspector, having 

 after the fact authority to accept or reject work as it progressed. 

 Consequently, I bided my time because I knew that the district public 

 works officer and a representative of the architect and engineer were 

 en route and expected shortly. Such discussion as I did have imme- 

 diately, was, for tlie most part, confined to discussions of leg damage, 

 if any, between myself and my assistant, Ensig-n Poulos. 



It should be borne in mind that the missing braces were not at that 

 time vital to the immediate phase — the upending of the legs. Also, 

 until the legs were sunk in the ocean, they could always be refloated 

 and returned to port, if required. I therefore took no action to delay 

 or stop the upending phase of the work. 



ATTEMPTING EEPAIES AT SEA DEEMED FEASIBLE 



The representative of the architect and engineer. Dr. Rutledge, and 

 the contractor, Mr. Steers, arrived the night of tiie upending and 

 initial placement operation. Discussions commenced forthwith. Mr. 

 Steers was positive that the braces could be replaced at the site be- 

 cause of the fact that no damage had been done to the legs. Dr. 

 Eutledge and I agreed that site repair was feasible and possible and 

 that a satisfactory solution could be devised. 



Sometime later — a matter of perhaps 2 or 3 weeks, and after clear- 

 ance by the district public works officer — ^Moran, Proctor, Mueser, & 

 Rutledge assisted the contractor in designing the massive collar brace 

 that was ultimately utilized. The design and method of installation 

 was submitted to me for approval. I discussed the solution in detail 

 with Mr. Kuss, who was throughout the project mj^ contact with the 

 architect and engineer on structural matters. 



Thereafter, I approved the collar brace solution, and it was installed 

 by means of both Dardelet and collar bolts as well as concrete bracing 

 of the legs on the inside. 



After the legs and braces were in position and during the platform 

 installation, injury in the form of perceptible denting or dishing 

 occurred to the "A" and "B" legs caused by the rubbing action of the 

 platform against the legs due to sea swells. 



I would like to interject here, sir, that there was some dishing of the 

 "Cleg, as well. 



Senator Saltoxstall. Mr. Chairman, would the commander explain 

 what the word "Dardelet" means ? 



Commander Foster. Senator SaitonsI all, it is a p:itented bolt which, 

 instead of a smooth shank, has a serrated shank. 



May I examine it ? 



This is a Dardelet bolt. Of course, they come in different sizes, 

 lengths, et cetera. 



