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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎78r] (160/308)

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. .

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5
23
coming as far as opposite A1 Waht in heavy floods. The ground at Nobat is
hard gravel with boulders and occasionally rock. The river Bileh emerges
from the mountain from the north-east at Nobat; it is a gravelly nullah 5(fto
60 yards wide and 4 or 5 feet deep covered with boulders. It is quite dry,
except in times of flood. Near El Anad it turns to the west and enters the
Tiban in a stream about 100 yards wide and 3 or 4 feet deep in heavy floods.
The valley of the Bileh runs to the south-east from El Anad, but it is stopped
at its north end and the river has not run in the valley for over 50 years,
This is a deep sandy valley w ith no stream except in heavy rain and then very
small and soon disappearing in the sand.
The ground between Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -es-Saghir and Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bileh is sand—mostly
hard on the west side and loo'e sand near the Bileh.
On the east of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bileh is a steep slope of loose sand in parts
about 100 feet high and beyond that a large extent of loose sand, the steep
slope towards the Bileh being apparently formed by sand blown over.
Course of railway.
It is considered inadvisable to locate the railway west of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -el-
Khabir and Tiban. The only advantase would be that from opposite Waht
to opposite Nobat Dakim it would be very cheaply constructed, as it would
cross no stream, would run along land with an even slope without valleys or
bills, very little excavation would be wanted, stone can be obtained nearly
all along the loute and the river is near for supplying water to the working
parties.
But it would run entirely through the desert at a distance from villages
and cultivation—and it w^o^d run a long way from A1 Hauta and on the
other side of the large Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -el-Khabir. It would be on the wrong side of the
river at Nobat and from north of Zaida would run through the land of a tribe
not friendly.
A line running close to A1 Hauta, which is, if possible, very desirable, as
A1 Hauta is the only large town on the route, would run through 8 or 10
miles of cultivated land and on emerging from this would be between two
large Wadis subject to heavy floods and necessitating a large bridge. The
Sultan of Lahej is very averse to taking a strip of land through the cultivated
countiy. On the whole, the line shown on the plan seems advisable. A
station at Har-el-Amir is specially required by the Sultan of Lahej, as it is
the first place in his territory. A station near Eiyush—cross the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -es-
Saghir north of Eiyush where it is small and the railway will be mostly on
a small embankment and then running north-west near the east of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -es-
Saghir. Another station might be near Zoida.
Erom Nobat further extension would probably eventually be up the
Tiban Valley; there seems to be no difficulty in reaching at any rate
Musemir; above that the country is not well enough known to give any
opinion.
In Aden it is suggested a station should be located south-west of Maala
and a small Branch line run to Maala Wharf. Erom Maala the best line
seems to be to tunnel under the hill and run out through the small isthmus.
Stations are also proposed at Khormaksar and Sheikh Othman.
It would be a great convenience to extend the line from Maala to Steamer
Point, w hich can be done by running the line on the north side of the main
road with a terminus on the newly reclaimed land at Tawahi.
E. LEIGH, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.L.,
Assistant Commanding Royal Engineer,
Aden Brigade.
No. 864, dated the 11th February 1906.
Endorsememt by Major-General H. M. Mason, 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.
Copy and copies of the previous correspondence on the subject with the
Aden Chamber of Commerce forwarded with compliments to the Secretary

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
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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎78r] (160/308), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/89, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026199056.0x0000a1> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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