I 1844 -] of a Pi er ai Madras. 



cess has been found out to preserve timber from the sea worms but it ijf 

 very expensive, of a difficult application and its efficacy has not been as 

 yet sufficiently tested. Besides the timber works at sea offer the incon- 

 venience of being more exposed to the action of the jsea and of the wind, 

 on account of the necessity of giving large dimensions to the piles, braces 

 stays &c. in order that they can resist the forces exerted upon them. 

 The suspension piers have no advantages that the fixed piers have not, in 

 a same degree, while they are liable to many inconveniences to which 

 these are not exposed. At first, it is certain that, whatever may be 

 the precautions taken, timber piles will never last so long as wrought iron 

 ones afterwards, the points of rest of the chains of suspension, being at a 

 great height above the level of the sea, the force which tends to make the 

 piles of the pillars yield, exerting itself upon these single points, is much 

 greater than if it was distributed on the whole length of the pier, and, 

 acting on a shorter lever. The chances for the piles sinking, after having 

 been driven, are also greater. The whole weight of the pier pressing upon 

 the small number of piles forming the pillars, the pressure as to the 

 section of each pile, is much more considerable than if it was equally pres- 

 sing upon a greater number of piles. Besides, among the suspension Piers 

 existing, there is none that has a sufficient breadth, for the wants of the 

 trade at Madras, the Brighton Pier being only 12| feet broad. This 

 single consideration would be enough to prevent the adoption of a sus- 

 pension Pier for Madras. A Pier similar to the one projected, will do 

 much better for the place, being in the meanwhile less expensive, of a 

 more easy execution and not liable to so many repairs in a same space 

 of time. It now remains to consider if in this structure all the requisites 

 of stability, solidity and durability, are sufficiently ensured. As to the 

 stability, there is no doubt but it possesses it in a greater degree than a 

 suspension Pier, to ascertain if the requisites of solidity and durability are 

 equally ensured, it is necessary to know. — 



1st. The character and capability of the sea's bottom within the re- 

 quired limits, for receiving and firmly retaining piles. 



2d. The reality of any shifting of the sandV within a certain distance 

 from the shore. 



3d. The distance at which, in bad weather, the surf breaks from the 

 shore, the force exerted by the surf, and its angle of incidence with the 

 ihore in the respective monsoons. 



4th. The extreme height of the waves, in violent monsoons. 



1 



