COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 263 



Mr. RuTLEDGE. Our resident engineer for the borings, Mr. Barry 

 Englander, was on the platform during the tow out. I personally 

 arrived at the site with Mr. Steers at midnight of. the day that the 

 foundation structure had been rotated to a vertical position, and when 

 we arrived, the foundation structure was in the vertical position. 



DAMAGE TO BRACES DISCOVERED 



Mr. Kendall. And the damage to the braces had then been discov- 

 ered, I assume ? 



Mr. RuTLEDGE. So I learned later. 



Mr. Kendall. Was Mr. Kuss there then ? 



Mr. RuTLEDGE. No. 



Mr. Kendall. Did j^^ou or any member of your firm have any dis- 

 cussions about what was the proper thing to do then about the lost 

 braces ? 



Mr. Rutledge. When Commander Foster transferred from the 

 foundation structure to the platform on the afternoon of the following 

 day after we had arrived at around midnight, the foundation structure 

 had been placed in the con-ect position and had been lowered down to 

 the ocean bottom so it was setting on the ocean bottom, and the party 

 who were on the foundation structure then came to the platform. 



Commander Foster then told me about the loss of the two braces, and 

 we discussed the situation. 



Mr. Kendall. Did you consider that a serious mishap or defect ? 



Mr. Rutledge. We considered this as serious. We considered it 

 particularly serious during the construction period. 



We discussed possible correction and we believed that replacement 

 braces could be designed that would serve the function of the lost 

 braces. 



Mr. Kendall. Was there any discussion of the possibility of taking 

 the tower back to port for repairs ? 



Mr. Rutledge. That entered into our discussions and considerations. 

 The upending and placing into position had been difficult and hazard- 

 ous, as all operations at sea are. 



This was a consideration. We considered that if we took it back to 

 port, there would be a year's delay in the construction of this entire 

 structure, for which there was considerable pressure, and we felt it 

 would be possible to design and have installed adequate replacements. 

 In considering all of these factors — ■ — 



Senator Stennis, Will you suspend right there just a mmute, 

 Dr. Rutledge? 



(Brief recess.) 



Senator Stennis. All right, gentlemen. May we have quiet, please ? 



May I say this, gentlemen : Your references to the tower model as 

 you point out various parts of the structure are quite helpful to us. 

 I think if you would just put the model over closer to you, about 

 where the water pitcher is, it would be so much more convenient to 

 you. 



Then you can use your pencil as a pointer. I am sorry we do not 

 have a long pointer. It would save a lot of time, as well as make it 

 more convenient to you. 



Proceed, gentlemen. 



