COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 285 



Mr. Kendall. But it would be true that if the inspection was prop- 

 erly made, that it could not be a contractor deficiency or fault ? 



Mr. RuTLEDGE. If it were an accurate and complete careful exami- 

 nation ; that is correct. 



Mr. Kendall. That is all I have, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Stennis. Mr. Rutledge, is there any further point, in view 

 of the question that you have been asked, that you wish to make ? 



Or you, Mr. Kuss? You may confer with counsel if you wish, 

 briefly. 



Mr. Shaw. Mr. Chairman ? 



Senator Stennis. Yes. 



Mr. Shaw. I have no doubt that counsel for the committee and 

 the men tiiat investigated this matter prior to these hearings checked 

 into this matter. I have not heard any questions asked with refer- 

 ence to two documents — three documents — that I think are quite sig- 

 nificant as bearing on the slippage in the pin, as bearing on estimates 

 in percentages of the tower. 



I would refer the committee to a document, a letter, dated Septem- 

 ber 18, 1958, from Mr. Kuss to the Officer in Charge of Construction, 

 having to do with the first diver inspection of Mr. Crockett. 



I would refer the committee to a communication from the Officer 

 in Charge of Construction to the Air Force installation representa- 

 tive, office. New England region, Boston, Mass., apparently dated Oc- 

 tober 8, 1958. And I would refer, in that comiection, to a further 

 communication which appears to be an interfile memorandmn at- 

 tached to this letter reporting on an Officer in Charge of Construction 

 conference of October 1, 1958, on stability of Texas tower No. 4. 



Senator Stennis. Who are the letters from. Counsel ? 



Mr. Shav/. I thought I had indicated that. 



Senator Stennis. I think you did but I didn't hear. 



Mr. Shaw. The letter I referred to was from Mr. Kuss to the Offi- 

 cer in Charge of Construction. The other was from the Officer in 

 Charge of Construction to the Air Force. 



Mr. Kendall. Mr. Chairman, I do not laiow whether those are in 

 the record already, but we certainly have no objection to their being 

 made a part of the record at this time. 



Mr. Shaw. I am quite sure they are not in the record and that is 

 the reason I raised the question. 



Senator Stennis. Very good. We will be glad to insert them in 

 the record at this time as an exhibit to Mr. Eutledge's testimony and 

 Mr. Kuss'. 



(The documents referred to are as follows : ) 



September 18, 1958. 

 Re : Stability of Texas tower No. 4. 



Officer in Chabge of Construction, 

 Texas TovjersNOy Contracts, 

 Navy Building, Boston, Mass. 



Dear Sir : We were informed yesterday afternoon by Mr. Eugene Rau, of the 

 firm of Steers & Morrison-Knudsen, contractors on the subject tower, that the 

 diver employed by the Navy for inspecting this structure had found that the 

 collar connecting the replacement brace to the "A" leg in the upper panel of the 

 bracing was loose, that some or all of the 1-inch sheer bolts were missing, and 

 that the collar had a movement of approximately 1 inch up and down on the 

 leg cylinder. This indicates, of course, that the brace is ineffective and further- 

 more the opposite brace in the same panel and connecting to the "B" leg is also 



