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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎79r] (162/308)

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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m
25
Draft of proposed conditions under which a railway may he constructed by private enterprise
from Aden into the interior of Arabia agreed to by Sultan Sir Ahmed Fadthl, K.C.SJ.
Sultan of Abdalij 16th November 1905, with comments thereon.
No.
Ill
IV
VI
Conditions.
Government reserve the right to purchase so
much of the line as lies within British territory
at not less than cost price if it be desired to do
so at any time after the lapse of a period of
twenty-five years from the date of the com
mencement of the line.
The Abdali Sultan reserves the right to pnr-
chpse so much of the line as lies within
Abdali territory at not less than cost price if
it be desired to do so at any time after the
lapse of a period of twenty-five years from
the date of commencement of the line.
Government shall have the right to use the
railway for military purposes underspecial
conditions as to rates and fares.
Offences committed on the line of railway
shall be dealt with in accordance with the
treaties existing or hereafter concluded
between the British Government and the
Abdali Sultan. The British Government shall
exercise sole jurisdiction over all Europeans
apd British subjects and the Abdali Sultan
shall exercise jurisdiciion over bis subjects.
Offences committed on the railway by sub
jects of other Native States shall be disposed
of in the Court of the 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. at
Aden; hut offences committed on the railway
within Abdali limits by subjects of other
Native States of the Aden Protectorate in
which Abdali subjects are concerned shall be
disposed of by the Abdali Sultan.
Civil suits in which the Railway Company is
concerned shall be disposed of by the Court of
the Resident at Aden. Otherwise civil juris
diction shall continue to be exercised in
accordance with the treaties existing or here
after concluded between the British Govern
ment and the Abdali Sultan.
A plan and estimate of the railway shall be
submitted for the approval of the Abdali
Sultan and the sanction of Government before
the construction of the line is started.
Comments of the Bombay Government.
In conditions I and II the words “at not less
than cost price ” are not sufficiently expres
sive, as they do not specify what the pur-
chase price shall eventually be. For this
purpose the cost of the line for all items of
way and works and all extras except rolling
stock may be limited to a maximum per mile
(the amount to be more exactly determined
after detailed estimate) ; the rolling stock
can be taken over at a fair valuation, prices
beintr subject to arbitration within limits
specified.
The following may he added at the end of
conditions I and II s “or at the expiration of
any subsequent period of ( ? ten years), subject
to (? 12) months’ notice of (their, Govern
ment’s or the Sultan’s as the case may be)
intention to purchase. ” It is probable that
the Abdali Sultan could not afford to purchase
the line within his territory and Government
should, with the Sultan’s assent, secure the
right to purchnse the whole line so far as the
promoters are concerned.
In the case of State Railways in India leased to
companies as also in the case of assisted rail
ways, the contracts prescribe that all services
which the Secretary of State may require the
Company to perform for various Depart
ments of the State, including the Military,
shall be performed “on the same general
conditions as may for the time being be in
force on State Railawys and at such rates as
may be approved by the Secretary of State
not being less than the rates in force for the
time bemg for similar services on State
Railways on the same gauge. In practice
the rates paid by Government are those
obtaining for similar services on State Rail
ways. The practice obtaining in the case of
Indian State Railways in such matters might
be generally followed all through this noti
fication.
As regards conditions IV and V, the Political
Resident, Aden, emphasises the point that in
the matter of jurisdiction arrangements more
liberal terms have been secured from the
Abdali Sultan than was at first anticipated.
The Bombay Government are, however, of
opinion that if the line is to run into Aden
or beyond Nobat Dakim, it is desirable that
the Sultan’s assent that Government should
exercise full jurisdiction on the line should
if possible be secured.
Conditions VI, VII and VIII appear unobjec
tionable subject to the proviso that as regards
condition VI the following should be added
at the end of that condition :—“ Construction
must be started within (?6) months after the
approval of the plans and estimates ; and the
line duly completed for opening to public
traffic within a further period of (?18) months.
At the end of condition VIII the following
may be added :—“ A schedule of maximum
rates and fares shall be approved by Govern
ment.*’
ReMIBXS.

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' [‎79r] (162/308), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/89, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026199056.0x0000a3> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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