APRIL— JUKE, 1857.] Iron Pile Pier at Madras. 14l 
strikes upon different points of the shore at different times ; and 
\vere it not for the stone bulwark and the groynes that guard the 
beach, far greater changes might occur in the soundings on any 
line chosen for the Pier, than need be feared now that the shore 
cannot be encroached upon. What the maximum effect of this 
current may be, the Cor^mittee have no means of determining ac- 
curately. It is probably greater during storms than has been mea- 
sured ; as on the surf and current subsiding after the gale ceases, 
the bed lises rapidly ; but as the boatmen who navigate the surf 
speak with confidence as to there never being deep water near 
the shore, it is evident to the Committee that the addition re- 
quired to the length of the piles is not such as to add greatly either 
to the cost of the work or to the difficulty of constructing it. 
If an effort is now made to detect what the maximum depth of 
the surf is, some information may be obtained before the North 
East monsoon ends ; as that is the season in which the greatest 
variation in the depth is likely to occur. This information might 
be sent to England in January ; and upon it the length of the piles 
might with safety be calculated; due allowance being made for a 
somewhat greater change taking place than had been observed. 
As the Committee consider this undermining action of the current 
to be the greatest danger to which the Pier will be exposed, they 
beg to call particular attention to this portion of their report. 
The Committee do not offer any objection to the use " of Baltic 
Timber" under the impression that by that name, is implied Red 
Menel Pine ; but if that description of wood has been chosen 
solely with a view to economy, they must express a doubt as to the 
advisability of the selection since they believe that Teak of such 
small scantling as is required in the Pier will hardly cost more 
than Pine prepared with Creosote, while the former would be found 
so much more durable than any description of Fir as to v/arrant if 
necessary a very considerable additional outlay on its^use. 
With regard to the cost of the Pier, Estimates have been pre- 
pared by two members of the Committee, who come nearly to the 
same result; namely, that its actual cost, without any allowance 
for Superintendence and risk would be £70,000. From this it will 
appear that the Contractors have a margin of about 30 per cent. 
