154 Scientific Intelligence. [no. Z, new series, 
those of all the future increase of traffic, as clear additional be- 
nefits. 
The foreign trade increased 20 per cent, in the last year, and it 
is quite certain that as the internal improvement of tlie country in 
irrigation and cheap transit, and the wealth of the people are 
quite in their infancj', the trade of the Port of Madras is also yet 
quite in its infancy. We may safely infer that even if the present 
partial system of improvement of the country is continued, the 
trade of the port M'ill be doubled and more likely quadrupled be- 
fore a breakwater is finished, even if it is begun immediately. 
At present the ordinary cost of conveying to the large vessels 
is 12 annas or 18 pence per ton, which is equal to fully 150 miles 
of carriage by the coast canal, so that a ton of goods from Tanjore 
would pay the same for conveyance to Madras by the canal as from 
the shore to the ship. 
4//J. Present circumsiances. — The fact that the Hon'ble Court 
seriously consider the question of an expenditure of 1()0,000£ on 
a Pier at Madras shows plainly the nature of the times at which 
we have now arrived, and that to leave things any longer in the 
old state in this port is not to be thought of. In fact whatever it 
may have been in times past, the port is now totally out of keeping 
with the whole of the present system of management of the coun- 
try. To spend 3 millions on a Railway, and as somebody well ex- 
pressed it, to end it in a massulah boat, is altogether prepos- 
terous. 
r think we may safely consider that all have now come to a de- 
cision on this point, and that something effective must be done to 
this important port. The question then is confined to this pointy 
whati.s it to be? Itis quite certain that the main points will not be 
attained by any Pier. It not only will not shelter the shipping, 
but it will leave even the landing and shipping of goods and 
passengers Sn a very imperfect state. There will be a great 
swell at the end of the Pier, which will be quite exposed to the sea ; 
and most assuredly if ten lacs ere spent upon it, there will even 
then be the same urgent demand for a breakwater as there is now^ 
It is quite certain at least according to my judgment that an expen- 
