APRIL — JUNE, 1857.] Iron Pile Pier at Madras. 145 
tion from tlie land. The proposed Pier will reduce these charges 
to a comparative trifle, large boats worked by a few hands, aided 
by sails, will be employed between the Pier and the shipping, and 
if a guard is necessary at all, one man only will still be required 
in each boat however many tons she may convey. But the saving 
on these accounts, great as they will be, will not equal in amount 
the sum economized by the expedition with which vessels will be 
cleared of their cargo and reloaded. The loss by demurrage is 
now even greater than the charge on boat hire and the saving of 
time that will be effected by the Pier must tell most favorably 
upon the trade 6f the port. Another benefit that will be derived 
from the Pier, and one of great moment is that it will enable ships 
to obtain fresh water by means of their ^wn boats ; as pipes may 
be carried over the surf for this purpose and thus one of the great 
objections to Madras as a calling port will be removed. 
Although the Pier will not be approachable at all times, suitable 
boats will in the opinion of the Committee be able to receive and 
deliver cargo under the shelter of the T head whenever they can 
be loaded with safety by the ship's side. The skill that is now so 
conspicuous in the management of boats in the surf, will soon be 
applied to the new description of vessel employed, and even when 
the weather is violent, communication will be held with the ship- 
ping in cases of emergency ; besides greater facility being afforded 
for sending off anchors to ships in need. While the possibility of 
launching life boats from the end of the Pier in a severe storm, 
which could by no other means be taken over the surf at such a 
time will supply a desideratum that has long been sought for in 
vain. Making therefore due allowance for the days when the Pier 
could not be used for general purposes, the Committee still feel 
certain that its effect will be such as to alter entirely the character 
of the Madras port. And as the returns show that a charge of five 
per cent upon the outlay required, would hardly have amounted to 
2| Annas upon the tonnage- of vessels that anchored in the Madras 
roads during the last year, they do not hesitate to say that the 
benefit to be anticipated from the work is such as to warrant the 
expenditure on its construction. 
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