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Scientific Intelligence. [no. Z 3 kew series, 



would be a Pile Jetty, peculiar only from the lateral strength being 

 obtained by means of rigging, instead of the usual deep hold on the 

 ground and support from the connection of parallel lines of piles, 

 which ensures the stability of such works in general. The great 

 spun from mast to mast can hardly be said to be a peculiarity of 

 structure, as it is not essential, and as Captain Taylor says " it 

 might be necessary to support the centre of the great divisions by 

 one pile screwed or driven." 



After carefully reading Captain Taylor's paper, the Committee 

 feel confident that it was written under a wrong impression as to 

 the difficulties to be contended with in piling across the surf; and 

 in the erroneous belief that several unsuccessful attempts have 

 been made to construct a pier. 



Mr. Piron's suggested Pier, the only one that ever approached 

 maturity would have rested on iron piles; and no executive diffi- 

 culties were anticipated in its construction by those acquainted with 

 such undertakings. That this project was not carried on to com- 

 pletion was not the result of failure in execution, but simply the 

 consequence of the work never having been attempted. 



Such a Pier as Captain Taylor proposes, would be an ingenious 

 mode of constructing a temporary Jetty to meet a sudden occasion, 

 where spars of sufficient length, and the other requisite material 

 were procurable. But as a permanent means of crossing the surf 

 would have great disadvantages, liable to injury, not only from the 

 settling of the masts, but from the anchors losing their hold by 

 the sudden shifts of sand that are of frequent occurrence in the 

 bed of the surf. It would in the opinion of the Committee be a con- 

 stant source of anxiety and expense till the masts had worked 

 down to the maximum depth required, when they would take the 

 place and act but indifferently the part of driven piles, which might 

 have been inserted far more accurately as to position without the 

 aid of means so complicated and costly, as the rigging and anchors 

 suggested by Captain Taylor. 



With a strength and capacity quice incommensurate with the 

 trade of Madras, such a work when completed would do hardly 



