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Scientific Intelligence. [no. 3, new series, 



The Committee have elsewhere stated it as their opinion, that 

 such a Pier as is now proposed will be the best means of spanning 

 the surf ; they would now add that whatever improvement of the 

 port of Madras may hereafter be undertaken, they are confident 

 that it will be then admitted that the construction of a Pile Pier 

 was the first step to be taken. 



Before closing their report the Committee would venture to offer 

 a suggestion that a proposal should be made to Messrs. Saunders 

 and Mitchell that in the execution of the work two lines of piles 

 connected by a platform should first be carried over the surf, and 

 that the full breadth should afterwards be completed. The Com- 

 mittee feel confident that such a work would be sufficiently stable, 

 and they observe from the Contractor's pamphlet upon screw pil- 

 ing, that its execution would be perfectly practicable. They admit 

 that this mode of working would entail some inconvenience, and 

 additional cost ; but the value of such a Pier for a year or two, in 

 the opinion of the Committee, would be well worth the difference 

 in expense, for if this plan was adopted, an immediate benefit 

 would be derived from the work. The Committee need hardly 

 say that some limit in the time of execution should be entered in 

 the specification. 



Memorandum on the papers connected with the proposal for a Pier at 

 Madras, ly Colonel A. Cotton. " 



It appears from the Report of the Committee on this question, 

 that they considered themselves called upon rather to give their 

 opinion upon the practicability, cost and advantages of a Pier ; 

 and not to go into the greater question of what upon the whole it 

 might be best to do at the present juncture for the improvement 

 of the Port of Madras. 



The points the Committee proposed to themselves for examina- 

 tion were, 



1st, The practicability of a Pier on piles. 

 2nd. Its fitness, with reference to its effect on the Coast 

 line, &c. 



