226 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



tower's structural capacity or incapacity to withstand future storm 

 conditions within the tolerances set by the original design criteria. 



I pointed out at that time to the Air Force, and this was, maybe 

 the first or second of October 1960, that we did not have the capabili- 

 ity of making such a report, and I requested permission to call in 

 Moran, Proctor, Mueser & Eutledge, which permission was given 

 us; in fact, an addendum came through on October 21 stating that 

 we would call them in. 



I called Mr. Carlton Proctor on October 3, and told him about 

 this requirement, and asked him if he would do this for us, giving us 

 a price, and I sent him the addendum, marking out the item I was 

 talking about, a copy of which, incidentally, I have here, and that 

 was a report that he was to make for us. 



We completed this work in the middle of November 1960. 



During this inspection we found one of the diagonal braces between 

 elevation minus 75 feet and minus 25 feet broken. 



The Air Force then asked what could be done as far as repairing 

 it at all, and we, in turn, called in — they may have talked to Moran, 

 Proctor, Mueser & Eutledge directly, I don't know, but I know I 

 talked to them, and on the 22d of November we had a meeting in our 

 office with the Air Force, and Mr. Carlton Proctor, Mr. Phil Eut- 

 ledge, and Mr. Ted Kuss were present and they gave suggestions as 

 to how they would repair the tower. 



Senator Symington. At that time was the question of danger a 

 question that came up ? 



Mr. Eau. No, sir; it was not. Of course, we knew the tower was 

 weakened, but the question of danger was not mentioned. 



Senator Symington. Did anybody think about it? Did you think 

 about it? At that point were you getting nervous about the men on 

 the tower ? 



Mr. Eau. Well, trying to go back 6 months, Senator, and recall, I 

 would say that since the hurricane season had passed, the weakened 

 condition wasn't exaggerated as mucli as it would be if it were, say, 

 August rather than November, December. 



Senator Symington. You were in and out of this year after year. 

 At some point the question of weakening became a question of danger. 

 I was wondering inasmuch as you were the builder and knew the 

 plans — I say this without any implied criticism — what was the time 

 when you came to the belief, if not to the conviction, that something 

 ought to be done quickly, or these men would be in danger ? 



Mr. Eau. Well, we knew when this meeting was held on the 22d of 

 November that we had so much work to do ; we pointed out to them at 

 that time how long it would take us to do it. We had figiu-ed on com- 

 pleting the job by about the first of March 1961, and we then pro- 

 ceded with that work. 



danger becomes apparent 



It wasn't until January 8 when the brace between minus 175 feet 

 and minus 125 feet wfts reported to me as broken that we became 

 more alarmed. 



Senator Symington. Then what did you do ? 



