APRIL— JUNE, 1857.] Iron Pile Pier at Madras. 139 
Saunders and Mitchell propose, it will be beyond the break of the 
surf, at all times when the sea is not too rough for cargo boats to 
be employed. 
The height of the platform above the ordinary high water mark 
is 15 feet; which is far above the crest of the surf even in stormy 
weather. That it may ^be found so on the occurrence of those 
peculiar cyclones which raise the surface of the sea much above its 
usual level, the Committee cannot say with perfect confidence ; but 
as this effect upon the ocean on the Coast of Coromandel is by no 
means the constant result of a hurricane, and as even the more usual 
character of storm has on an average only visited Madras once in 10 
years, they do not consider it necessary to recommend any change 
in the projector's plan to guard the Pier against a risk so remote. 
The sufficiency of the wharfage room on the Pier-head will de- 
pend upon the rapidity with which the goods are despatched from 
it, and this again will be mainly influenced by the facilities afford- 
ed for their transit between the Pier and the shore. 
The Committee observe that in the " Main Pier" or that part 
of the work which connects the head with the shore, only 17 feet of 
the entire breadth which is 40 feet, is covered with platform. The 
reason for this is not assigned, and they cannot think it a desirable 
arrangement. They do not consider a breadth of 40 feet between 
the outer lines of piles necessary for the stability of the work, and 
would look upon so great a breadth on that account as causing a 
needless expense. But when they compare the traffic of Madras 
with the means afforded for cleaning the Pier-head, (bearing in mind 
at the same time how much circumstances often compel the greater 
part of a day's work to be crowded into a few hours) they came at 
once to the conclusion, that the Pier is not too broad, and that the 
change of plan required is an increase in the breadth of the plat- 
form and the number of lines of rail it bears. As now proposed, 
there would be but two lines of rail which under the 1?est arrange- 
ment would not probably be found sufficient in the most active 
season of the year ; and as no arrangement however good, could 
prevent occasional obstructions occurring, it would be unadvisable 
to trust to one Railway for landing and one for shipping. 
