COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 277 



Mr. Kuss. Sir, I gave that as an example of a fracture that might 

 not have been discovered. I did not say that it was not in place at 

 that time. 



Senator Stennis. Well, it is probable that these braces Vvcre torn 

 loose down there during Hurricane Donna ? 



I know that is highly speculati\'e, but do you think it probably 

 happened then? 



Mr. Kuss. I don-t know. 



Senator Stennis. You don't know ? What I am leading to is the 

 period of reasonable notice of this situation. Was not there ample 

 time to make a more thorough examination between November 14 and 

 January 12? That was a period of 60 days. 



Mr. Kuss. Well, sir, I was informed that the tower was given a 

 complete examination when we got our report of November 14. I 

 presumed that was a complete examination. 



Senator Stennis. All right. Anyway, when you learned in Jan- 

 uary this lower brace was broken; that is when you were really sur- 

 prised that the tower kept standing in view of that condition ? 



Mr. Kuss. As long as that condition was true ; yes. 



Senator Stexxis. Yes, since it was true, since it started and as long 

 as it continued ? 



Mr. Kuss. Yes. 



Senator Stennis. Now, I vrant to ask Mr. Rutledge this question: 

 We have had the testimony here from you and others as to what hap- 

 pened during the upending and the unfortunate fact that the braces 

 were broken loose. 



Now, after the tower was upended and put in place, Mr. Rutledge, 

 did you ever approve this tower as it stood there in the w^ater ? Yv'hen 

 it was first upended, the braces were broken. Now, you did not 

 approve it in that condition, did you 2 



Mr. Rutledge. No, sir. 



Senator Stennis. All right. Was there any time from then on 

 until it fell when it was in condition w^here you could approve it ? 



Mr. Rutledge. To my recollection, sir, we did not or were not re- 

 quested to make any such certification, except upon the completion of 

 the installation of the above- water X-bracing in which the Air Force 

 requested a certification which we provided, that it was in a condition 

 to meet the design criteria. 



Senator Stennis. I understand that, Mr. Rutledge, but with all 

 deference to you — I do not think you are being evasive or trying to be 

 evasive, but I dont' think you answered the question. 



You are a highly responsible gentleman in every way, and a highly 

 competent one. Just as a layman, after hearing all this testimony, I 

 can't think of any time, from the time it was first upended until it col- 

 lapsed, years later, that I would think it was in top condition or in the 

 condition for which it was designed. 

 . Therefore, I wouldn't have approved it, as I see the testimony. 



Now, you know more about it than I do. Was there a time, from the 

 time it was upended and erected until it collapsed, that you could have 

 approved it as it stood ? 



Mr. Rutledge. Yes, sir. We did not approve it. But after 



the slippage of the collars was corrected with the bolts, the T-bolts 



Senator Stenistis. Yes. 



