april— june, 1857.] Iron Pile Pier at Madras. 137 



satisfies them, that each solid Iron pile standing unsupported ex- 

 cept by its hold on the bed of the sea, is capable of resisting a 

 greater force than the blow of the Madras surf. Assured upon 

 these points, and having the support of all who adopted Mr. Piron's 

 proposed Pier, which resembled the work now under review in all 

 essential particulars, and above all with the ample evidence before 

 them of Messrs. Saunders and Mitchell's successes in works of a 

 like nature in other ports of the world, the Committee do not 

 hesitate to declare the work not only perfectly feasible, but simple 

 of construction, and such as may be rapidly completed. 



Nor are the Committee less confident and unanimous in their 

 opinion upon the second point; viz., that an Iron pile Pier such as 

 is now proposed, is the most suitable means for spanning the 

 Madras surf. First, because it will cause less interference with 

 the ocean-current than any other description of Jetty equally strong 

 and effective, and consequently will risk in a less degree any in- 

 jurious change in the Coast line ; and secondly, because with great 

 strength it will offer no unnecessary resistance to the wave, and 

 thus have one of the chief causes of injury reduced to the 

 utmost. 



With regard to the plan of the proposed Pier which is that of 

 the letter T, the head being parallel to the Coast, the Commit- 

 tee observe that this form is rendered necessary by the circumstance 

 of the direction of the ocean-current being parallel to the shore 

 and its velocity so great at times, that boats could not be moored 

 with safety across its course. 



In examining the dimensions of the Pier, three points have been 

 considered. 



1st, Whether the length will be sufficient to ensure the Pier- 

 head being beyond the break of the surf. 



2dly, Whether its height above water is such that the sea will 

 not break over it and, 



3rdly, Whether the area of platform is sufficient to accommodate 

 the trade of Madras. 

 The length of the Main Pier is to be 960 feet and the breadth 



