COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 153 



Senator Stenn-is (continuing). "10 inches deep, 6 feet wide'' — tiiat 

 is 6 feet on the upright — "and 10 feet in length." 



That was rather severe, was it not, and somewhat of a surj^rise to 

 you '^ 



Commander Foster. It was a surprise, and I was concerned about it. 



Senator STEisrisris. Yes. Well, you said next : 



This was repaired by placing steel reinforcing in the concrete lining of the 

 legs in the dished areas. 



You felt that the damage was corrected by putting the steel I'ein- 

 f orcing in the concrete lining ; is that right ? 



Commander Foster. Yes, sir. 



Senator Stennis. That did not give you any more trouble? 



Commander Foster. No, sir. 



Senator Stennis. My inquiry is that I was surprised that as serious 

 a matter as this was not anticipated and protected against in the 

 original design. It impresses me. 



What is your professional thinking on that ? 



Commander Foster. Well, I think this was an outcome of the 

 change from the platform, the temporary platform; in other words, 

 had concrete been able to be placed in the legs, that w^ould not have 

 happened. But this was impossible at this stage. It was the only 

 way to do it, and we did it this way. 



Senator Stennis. I commend you for having made this repair so 

 successfully. My remark was that it seemed to me that it could have 

 been quite serious if you had not gotten to it quickly and effectively. 

 I just thought that should have been anticipated and hedged against 

 after you decided to change the platform plan. 



Commander Foster. At that stage, sir, there was no way to hedge 

 against it. 



Senator Stennis. You had to wait for the injury to occur, you 

 mean ? 



Commander Foster. No, sir ; what I mean is we picked the quietest 

 time we could and were very careful in hauling this platform in. I 

 understand the committee has seen a movie. The contractor's men 

 really worked heroically in taking steps to minimize this chafing 



Senator Steistnis. I was not suggesting anything to the contrary. 

 I think this just emphasizes the fact that you had a difficult job to 

 do and that you should have allowed sufficient margin on all these 

 major matters. This particular trouble was due, though, to the change 

 in the plans about the platform installation ; is that right ? 



Commander Foster. In my opinion ; yes, sir. 



Senator Stennis. All right; do you have anything further? 



Mr. Kendall. Yes, sir. 



Commander, you mentioned a movie that was shown. I believe 

 that movie showed that during the tipup or the tipover, the template 

 rotated 17 degrees in one direction and, correcting, rotated back 17 

 degrees in the other direction. Is that right ? 



Commander Foster. That is approximately so, sir, give or take a 

 degree or two. 



Mr. Kendall. Was it not a fact, sir, that that was an unforeseen 

 factor ? 



Commander Foster, It generally followed the behavior of the 

 model study that was made. 



