COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 157 



the telephone, and this is where most of this conversation took place, 

 I indicated that we would be happy to act as the design and construc- 

 tion agency for any repair work due to structure of the tower. 



Mr. Kendall. Here is the point, Captain. Here you received this 

 message in which the design engineer said : 



This is an emergency ; if we do not do something about this tower, we may 

 lose it unless something is done about it by August 1. 



That is right, is it not ? 



Captain White. That is correct. 



Mr. Kendall. Did you then make an independent investigation or 

 study to determine what the facts of the situation were and the prob- 

 lem with which you were confronted ? 



Captain White. No; I did not. 



Mr. Kendall. Were you familiar with it at that time to an extent 

 that you did not need to make such an investigation or study? 



Captain White. No. 



Mr. Kendall. Well, did you. Captain, on March 15, write a letter 

 about it ? You did, did you not ? 



Captain White. I did. 



Mr. Kendall. To whom was that letter addressed ? 



Captain White. To Colonel Stephany, who succeeded Colonel 

 , Cipolla as the Air Force installations representative. 



Mr. Kendall. Do you have a copy of that letter with you, and if 

 so, will you make it a part of the record ? 



Captain White. I am sorry ; I do not have it with me, but it will 

 be made a part of the records ; yes. 



Mr. Kendall. You will supply it as part of the record ? 



Captain White. Yes. 



(The document referred to is as follows :) 



March 15, 1960. 

 Lt. Col. R. C. Stephant, 



U.S. Air Force, New England Civic Engineer Region, • 



Waltham, Mass. 



Dear Lieutenant Colonel Stephany : Several weeks ago Colonel Cipolla 

 discussed with me the motion difficulties being experienced by Texas tower 

 No. 4. At that time, the basic cause for the exaggerated motion was not defi- 

 nitely known. However, it was suspected that it was probably due to motion 

 of the underwater collars to which the horizontal and diagonal bracing mem- 

 bers are attached. It was contemplated that correction of the motion difficulty 

 would involve installation of additional bracing above the water level at an 

 estimated cost of $500,000. I advised Colonel Cipolla that while I definitely 

 did not wish to become involved in problems of a purely maintenance nature 

 on the Texas towers, the motion difficulty appeared to be related to the original 

 design and for this reason I would look favorably upon a request for the 

 Navy to administer both the engineering and repair contracts required for 

 correction of the difficulty. 



Last week I received your memo furnishing me copies of the diving contrac- 

 tor's data and Otis Air Force Base request for authority to engage an architect 

 and engineer to develop plans, specifications, and cost estimate for necessary 

 repairs to the underwater structural bracing. However, I have not as yet 

 received any correspondence of a formal nature which would indicate the inten- 

 tion of your office for the Navy to award and administer the architect and 

 engineer contract. 



If it is your intention that the district public works office award and admin- 

 ister the architect and engineer contract, it is suggested that formal notification 



