134 Scientific Intelligence. [no. Z, new series, 
would be a Pile Jetty, peculiar only from the lateral strength being 
obtained by means of rigging, instead of the usual deep hold on the 
ground and support from the connection of parallel lines of piles, 
■which ensures the stability of such works in general. The great 
span from mast to mast can hardly be said to be a peculiarity of 
structure, as it is not essential, and as Captain Taylor says " it 
might be necessary to support the centre of the great divisions by 
one pile screwed or driven." 
After carefully reading Captain Taylor's paper, the Committee 
feel confident that it was written under a wrong impression as to 
the difficulties to be contended with in piling across the surf ; and 
in the erroneous belief that several unsuccessful attempts have 
been made to construct a pier. 
Mr. Piron's suggested Pier, the only one that ever approached 
maturity would have rested on iron piles ; and no executive diffi- 
culties were anticipated in its construction by those acquainted with 
such undertakings. That this project was not carried on to com- 
pletion was not the result of failure in execution, but simply the 
consequence of the work never having been attempted. 
Such a Pier as Captain Taylor proposes, would be an ingenious 
mode of constructing a temporary Jetty to meet a sudden occasion, 
where spars of sufficient length, and the other requisite material 
were procurable. But as a permanent means of crossing the surf 
would have great disadvantages, liable to injury, not only from the 
settling of the masts, but from the anchors losing their hold by 
the sudden shifts of sand that are of frequent occurrence in the 
bed of the surf. It would in the opinion of the Committee be a con- 
stant source of anxiety and expense till the masts had worked 
down to the maximum depth required, when they would take the 
place and act but indifferently the part of driven piles, which might 
have been inserted far more accurately as to position without the 
aid of means so complicated and costly, as the rigging and anchors 
suggested by Captain Taylor. 
With a strength and capacity quite incommensurate with the 
trade of Madras, such a work when completed would do hardly 
