april— june, 1857.] Iron Pile Pier at Madras. 145 



tion from the land. The proposed Pier will reduce these charges 

 to a comparative trifle, large boats worked by a few hands, aided 

 by sails, will be employed between the Pier and the shipping, and 

 if a guard is necessary at all, one man only will still be required 

 in each boat however many tons she may convey. But the saving 

 on these accounts, great as they will be, will not equal in amount 

 the sum economized by the expedition with which vessels will be 

 cleared of their cargo and reloaded. The loss by demurrage is 

 now even greater than the charge on boat hire and the saving of 

 time that will be effected by the Pier must tell most favorably 

 upon the trade of the port. Another benefit that will be derived 

 from the Pier, and one of great moment is that it will enable ships 

 to obtain fresh water by means of their own boats ; as pipes may 

 be carried over the surf for this purpose and thus one of the great 

 objections to Madras as a calling port will be removed. 



Although the Pier will not be approachable at all times, suitable 

 boats will in the opinion of the Committee be able to receive and 

 deliver cargo under the shelter of the T head whenever they can 

 be loaded with safety by the ship's side. The skill that is now so 

 conspicuous in the management of boats in the surf, will soon be 

 applied to the new description of vessel employed, and even when 

 the weather is violent, communication will be held with the ship- 

 ping in cases of emergency ; besides greater facility being afforded 

 for sending off anchors to ships in need. While the possibility of 

 launching life boats from the end of the Pier in a severe storm, 

 which could by no other means be taken over the surf at such a 

 time will supply a desideratum that has long been sought for in 

 vain. Making therefore due allowance for the days when the Pier 

 could not be used for general purposes, the Committee still feel 

 certain that its effect will be such as to alter entirely the character 

 of the Madras port. And as the returns show that a charge of five 

 per cent upon the outlay required, would hardly have amounted to 

 2| Annas upon the tonnage of vessels that anchored in the Madras 

 roads during the last year, they do not hesitate to say that the 

 benefit, to be anticipated from the work is such as to warrant the 

 expenditure on its construction, 



