APRIL — JUNE, 1857.] Breahioater for Madras. 155 
sive Pier of this sort, will be quite unnecessary after a breakwater 
is constructed. Indeed when Madras is situated on a sheltered bay 
(though an artificial one) the whole question of landing and ship- 
ping will have to be reconsidered, for it is evident that almost any 
thing may then be done in the way of wharfs, docks, &c., so that 
in my opinion it will be>a most grievous mistake to spend, in fact 
to throw away 100,000£ upon a Pier, which would be totally un- 
suited to the new state of things, that would be caused by the ex- 
ecution of a work which may be done any day, which is certainly 
the only work Uiat can make Madras a safe and effective harbour, 
and which will not cost so very much more than a Pier sucli as is 
contemplated. In fact we may go far- 
ther than that and safely say that if the 
Hi.jh water same Sum of 10 lacs were spenton 600,000 
Low water ^o^s of stone, thrown down on a line of 
2,000 yards in length, parallel with the 
beach in 6| fathoms, forming a reef of a 
section of 300 square yards, or about 40 
yards broad at the base and 12 yards 
40 yards. high, that is reaching to within a yard of 
low water, it would be far more beneficial than a Pier, for it would 
certainly ensure almost smooth water for the shipsj and entirely 
destroy the surf. 
Such an artificial reef would effectually destroy the oscillation of 
the sea, which would break on it, instead of on the shore. 
Hence to spend under these circumstances 100,000£ upon a Pier, 
when 250,000£ would prohahly be sufficient to make Madras much 
superior to any harbour now in India, and equal to any in the world, 
appears to me the greatest mistake, and if it is thought that such a 
work would cost more than J million, it would not essentially alter 
the case, for it is certain that it would be far more economical to 
spend even half a million in making a harbour than 100,'<J00£ in mak- 
ing a Pier. Five per cent on the latter sum would not be 1 Rupee 
per ton on the present tonnage, and really the present tonnage is no 
measure of the future tonnage. The mere formation of a harbour 
would itself have a prodigious effect on the trade, and the Coast 
