APRIL — JUNE, 1857.] Breahoatef for Madras, 157 
Can it possibly be said while we are spending so many millions 
on tho railways, that it is out of proportion to spend \ million on 
a harbour, at a seat of Government, and a place whicli is already 
a great commercial centre, notwithstanding almost every kind of 
hinderance, such as a want of internal cheap transit, an unshelter- 
ed roadstead, a heavy s^urf, &c. The exports from Coringa have 
increased seven-fold, since the improvements in irrigation and tran- 
sit, although they do not extend beyond the little tract of country 
which forms the delta of the Godavery ; what will they increase to 
when 50 times tliat extent of country is opened out by cheap car- 
riage, and how surely the same thing will take place at Madras, if 
even the present partial system of internal improvement is perse- 
vered in. 
I avoid going into any detail in this paper, respecting the construc- 
tion of the work, as I think it would be quite out of place ; I will 
only say that I feel assured that tliere will be no difficulty whatever 
in it, beyond wliat ordinarily occurs in executing works of magni- 
tude. And it must particularly be remembered that a work of this 
kind may be carried to any extent and executed at any rate of pro- 
gress tliat may be convenient. Five lacs or ten lacs a year may 
be set apart for it, and in the very first year, a material, nay an es- 
sential change, will be made in the port. 
I conclude with earnestly requesting that these points may be 
thoroughly considered, and with recommending that this obvious, 
simple, and effective work may be at once undertaken. I append 
a chart'^' of the coast N. of Madras, showing the Pulicat and Arme- 
gon shoals. For thirty years it has been repeatedly proposed to use 
the shelter afforded by the latter as a Harbour, in connection with 
Madras. It has of course failed, because a harbour must be where 
the Commercial community are, and there is 100 times too much 
capital invested at Madras, in connection with the Port, to allow 
of the trade being removed to another site. We musi either make 
* Note. — In this chart the Pulicat slioal is incorrectly laid down as though there 
was no passage between its southern extremity and the main, Wliereas it will 
be seen that in the plan marketl in pencil the least depth is 5 fathoms as shown by 
the soundings. 
