274 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



Mr. Kendall. And up to January 15, you hadn't given an evalua- 

 tion, had you ? 



Mr. Kuss. Yes, sir: I had given an evaluation that it was very 

 dangerous. 



Mr. Kendall. Is tliat what you call an evaluation of the remaining 

 strength of the tower ? 



Mr. Kuss. Under the circumstances, that was it. 



Mr. Kendall. That is a good engineering evaluation, that it was 

 very dangerous ? 



Mr. Kuss. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. But you never came up with a detailed analysis such 

 as you have in this report, did j'ou ? 



Mr. Kuss. No, sir. 



Senator Stennis. Pardon me again. While you are on this point, 

 you used the term "very dangerous," and I think that is understood. 

 But as I interpret it, you mean that it was just dangerous for human 

 habitation, and that it was likely to collapse under any additional 

 strain, is that correct ? 



Mr. Kuss. Yes, sir. I don't see any need for adding any figures 

 to that. That is a conclusion. 



Senator Stennis. I understand your testimony, but I wanted to 

 be certain I understood the element of danger to humans and the 

 likelihood of collapse. 



Mr. Kendall. If you had given some figures, Mr. Kuss, wouldn't 

 the Air Force have been in a better position to evaluate the weather 

 forecasts in relation to the strength of the tower ? 



Mr. Kuss. I didn't want to have them do that. That would be 

 highly dangerous and misleading, because I did not know the total 

 damage, or couldn't be sure tliat I knew tlie total damage. 



Mr. Kendall. Finally, I believe a figure of 55 percent of the original 

 strength was attributed to a statement made by you. Wliat did you 

 mean b}' that statement, and when was it made ? 



percentage of original strength estimated 



Mr. Kuss. Tliis was made on January 12 in the Steei-s office. 



ISfr. Kendall. What did you mean by the statement ? 



Mr. Kuss. We were discussing the installation of the rope bracing. 



Mr. Kendall. That is what we have been referring to as the cable 

 bracing? 



Mr. Kuss. The cable bracing, here in red [indicating]. In order 

 to evaluate whether even with the installation of that in, it would be 

 worthwhile. I was asked to evaluate the strength of the tower after 

 the rope bracing was in. 



Mr. Kendall. In other words, j'ou said that after that cable had 

 been installed but without the replacement of the lower diagonal, 

 it would be 55 percent as strong as its design criteria ? 



Mr. Kuss. Yes. 



Mr. Kendall. Then at that time 



Senator Stennis. Have you answered ? 



Mr. Kendall. He said "Yes." 



At the time of the collapse, since the cable bracing had not been 

 installed, the tower was even weaker than that ? 



