COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 177 



25-foot level prior to any other repair. This is my own personal 

 opinion. 



Mr. Kendall. Did you express that opinion to anyone at that 

 time? 



Mr. Crockett. I did, before that meeting. 



Mr. Kendall. Was Mr. Kuss there at the time ? 



Mr. Crockett. Mr. Kuss was there. 



Mr. Kendall. What was Mr. Kuss' reaction ? 



Mr. Crockett. Mr. Kuss was in favor of the X-ray bracing. 



Mr. Kendall. Without repairs at the minus-25-foot level? 



Mr. Crockett. He felt repairs should be made at the minus-25- 

 f oot level, but I feel that he felt that the X-ray bracing would seriously 

 enhance the stability of the tower. Thus he deemed it advisable to 

 go ahead with the X-ray bracing first. 



Mr. Kendall. Was not installation of that X-bracing contrary 

 to the original concept of the design of the tower? 



Mr. Crockett. I believe that it was. 



Mr. Kendall. In case I have not asked you, Mr. Crockett, would 

 you make a copy of that report of February 15, 1960, a part of the 

 record ? 



Mr. Crockett. Yes, sir. 



(The document referred to is as follows:) 



Febeuaey 15, 1960. 

 Base Procurement Office, 

 Otis Air Force Base, Mass. 

 Reference contract No. (19-603)60-4520. 



To nonpersonal services to furnish all plant, labor, equipment and materials. 

 and accomplish all operations required for the emergency inspection of 

 underwater structural bracing Texas tower No. 4. In accordance with tech- 

 nical provisions and general clause. 

 In accordance with the terms of general clause and technical specifications of 

 the above-cited contract, we respectfully submit the following report. 

 Inspection performed, February 8, 1960. 



Weather conditions severe : Wind 25 to 30 knots. Seas 15 to 20 feet height. 

 Cloudy. 



Three divers down to complete survey of bottom and entire length of each 

 caisson including the structural bracing. 



Bottom of caissons A, B, C, were found to have a buildup of sand around the 

 caisson footing approximately 6 feet in height. The bottom area around the 

 tower contains considerable debris ; namely, 50-gallon drums, construction steel, 

 wire cable rope, blocks, hoses, etc. C caisson had an abandoned diving platform 

 against the footing. HoAvever, none of this debris is doing damage to the 

 caissons. 



CAISSONS A, B, AND C 



The caissons were surveyed from the surface to the bottom minus 185 feet. 

 Each caisson was found heavily coated with marine growth and mussel beds to 

 a depth of minus 90 feet. No obstructions, cables, blocks, wire, or blocks were 

 found on the surface of B or C caissons. A caisson had a rope hawser around 

 the caisson at the minus-25-foot level and had considerable wire rope below 100 

 feet minus. We found no hanging or loose articles attached on any of the cais- 

 sons that could account for any of the rejKjrted noises heard on the tower. The 



