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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [75v] (155/308)
The record is made up of 1 volume (150 folios). It was created in 20 Aug 1904-3 Apr 1922. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
18
28. At some future date when interstatal boundaries have been more
precisely defined, and should circumstances of an exceptional nature render
such a measure for any reason desirable, a digression of the nature indicated
might be effected. But at the outset and granted fairly reasonable concessions
by "the Abdali, I do not recommend the entertainment of such an idea.
29. 1 therefore recommend, for the present consideration of Government,
the publication of tbe present conditions and the grant of all possible conces
sions to a ruler who, whatever his failings, is at least imbued with a spirit ot
enterprise much above bis fellows and countrymen.
30 I have inserted at present no condition as to compensation being paid
for loss’actually sustained by any individual landholder or house-holder by the
construction of the line. Should Government consider it necessary I can
arrange for its insertion. The point was discussed with the Abdali Sultan,
but as be demurred to the decision in the matter of the amount of the compen
sation being decided in my Court, it was for the time being dropped.
31 As to the route the line shall follow through the Hinterland, I hope
shortly to submit the map showing this and the site of the proposed terminus
and stations For the present I would simply state that local opinion and
also tbe opinion of tbe Abdali Sultan is very strongly in favour ot making
^ . i r fii^ /Uc+niofa in tlio vieinitv of that Diace the immediate
objective of tbe railway.
32 Tliis route should, I gather, tap a maximum of trade and it would
have lhe advantage of avoiding the Amiri, Alawi and Baishi claims to transit
duty: the only imposts being Turkish and Haushabi in addition to tlie
Abdali.
33 Finally, I have the honour to recommend that the gauge of the
proposed railway shall be either one metre or else the same gauge as the
liediaz Railway, 105 metres. The Ahdali Sultan would be, I think, prepared
to a-ree to either. And on the whole I am strongly of opinion that a metre
gauge would be best. It would answer all requirements both military and
civil and in this respect have a distinct advantage over a smaller gauge. On
the other hand, a broader gauge is not necessary and would be too expensive.
It might be desirable to publish this with the notification, and I would suggest
accordingly that a metre gauge should be at once decided upon.
34 . I venture to hope that the net result of these preliminary negotiations
mav be approved of. The draft conditions coyer more ground than was
contemplated by the Government of India in their letter No. 2609-E.B., dated
the 8th July 1905, but will, I trust, eventually be recognised as essential to the
proper working of the proposed railway. The Sultan’s consent to them has
been gained not without a struggle, but without friction. Ai.d I have the
honour to bring to the notice of Government the services rendered in the matter
by my Acting First Assistant, to whose tact and patience the result of these
preliminary negotiations is largely due.
DRAFT NOTIFICATION.
'Whereas the Government of India are now prepared to consider favour-
ably proposals for the construction of a railway by private enteiprise from
I Aden into tbe interior of the Aden Protectorate, and whereas Sir Ahmed
1 Fadthl, K.C.S.L, Sultan of tbe Abdali, has expressed his willingness and
'desire that snch a railway should be constructed through his territory, this is
to notify that up to and including the 1st day of April 1906 the Political
Resident of Aden is now prepared to consider offers and tenders for the
construction of such a line for recommendation to the Abdali Sultan and to the
Government of India.
The following are the general conditions on which the railway can be
constructed and offers should be framed accordingly.
H. M. MASON, Major-General,
- f
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
, Aden.
About this item
- Content
The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, and notes, relating to proposals for the construction of a steam railway between Aden and its hinterland from 1904.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
The correspondence is followed by further discussion on extending into Aden a railway to be built from Dar-al-Amir to Nobat Dakim [Nawbatal-Dakim, Yemen; identified on map four miles north of Al'Anad but not corresponding to any actual place], on its further extension to D'thala [Aḑ Ḑāli‘, Yemen], on the permission and financial contribution sought from the Government of India, and on negotiations with local rulers and tribes. A projected line from Hodeida [Al Hudaydah, Yemen] to Sana'a is also briefly discussed in the volume.
The main correspondents are the Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. in London, and the Government of India.
The volume also includes cuttings from Parliamentary debates on 'The Aden Hinterland', and a 'Map of the Proposed Railway from Aden to Nobat Dakim' on folio 114.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (150 folios)
- Arrangement
The subject 379 (Railways) consists of one volume. The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 152; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A large folded map is enclosed in a polyester sleeve, on folio 114.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [75v] (155/308), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/89, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026199056.0x00009c> [accessed 19 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/89
- Title
- 'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:113v, 115r:151v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence