مجموعة ٢٨ /١٩ "سيستان وكاين. تقارير تجارية سنوية" [و‎‎٩‎٥] (٣١٨/١٩٣)

7
Communications and Transport.
(а) State of ‘Communications generally .—
There is no railway in East Persia.
The main Zahidan-Meshad road has been credit
ably maintained and is yearly improving. The
improvement is to some extent due to the heavy
falling off of traffic.
Before the Monopoly Law, a traveller between
Birjand and Zahidan might expect to pass 30/40
lorries on the road and now 2 or 3 only are met.
The Zahidan-Zabul road has deteriorated and is
no more than a track liable to become impassable
from 24 hours rain and frequently flooded.
(б) Construction of New Roads. —In connection
with the Sistan development scheme a new metalled
road is in course of construction. The earthwork
has been completed for a distance of some 25/30
miles and metalling is ready to be laid. When
the road is completed the authorities intend to
construct a road from Zabul northwards to join
the existing Zahidan-Meshad road near Shush]).
That portion of the Zahidan-Meshad road which
lies between Shushp and Hormuk, will then be
abandoned and all traffic will pass through Zabul.
(c) Upkeep of old roads. —Temporary repairs
only are effected.
{d) Average rates on Chief Trade Routes. —See
Appendix D to this report.
(e) Effects of Motors on Annual transport rates .—
Motors have superseded animal transport on main
routes except for seasonal transport of grain from
Sistan to Zahidan and Qain and between Persia
and Afghanistan.
(/) Air Service—NA.
(g) Security. —There have been no serious raids
on the mam roads, but animal caravans have
occasionally met with robbers on the Zabul-
Zahidan desert track.
Social.
{a) Standard of Living. —Very low. While that
of the official classes is perhaps slowly rising, the
peasantry remain in a condition of serfdom. Such
small luxuries as tea and sugar have increased so
greatly in price as a result of the Monopoly Law
that they cannot, to any extent, be enjoyed by the
peasantry.
(b) Unemployment.—No statistics available.
A large number of petty traders in the towns have
been compelled to close business as a result of the
Monopoly Law. There is no organised relief for
unemployed.
(c) Evidence of Emigration. —Nil.
{d) Public Health and Hygiene. —No statistics
available. Malaria hitherto unknown at Zabul
(Sistan) has become endemic during the past two
years. Both typhoid and a particularly virulent
tjqje of influenza were epidemic in Sistan and
some cases of small-pox occurred in Qain.
An infectious disease, as yet undiagnosed, has
been epidemic at Sistan. A slightly sore throat is
followed by low temperature for some days,
accompanied by rheumatism. The patient slowly
recovers, rema ning weak and the liver is entirely
inactive for a varying period of convalescence.
(e) Municipal Services. —Very primitive and
usually confined to the minimum of street cleaning
and lighting.
C. K. DALY, Major, C.I.E.,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul,
Sistan and Kain.
MC2024D