'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎180v] (365/706)

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kirmanshah
Cartridge cases are got out from Europe, and are charged in Kirmanshali.
The powder made here seems to have better explosive qualities than that
generally found in Persia.
Communications.
Roads .—The flew of commercial traffic is via the Tigris frem Basrah
to Baghdad, and thence by mules or camels to Kirmanshah.
The freight or the Tigris is about 37s. 6 d. per ton, equal to the freight
per ton from London to Basrah, and on the top of this the Turks charge
1 per cent, ad valorem transit duty. As previously pointed out, by this
route our goods are placed all over northern and western Persia and also
serve to a large extent Isfahan and its districts. Even with this heavy
riverain freight from Basrah, it has been computed that via Baghdad to
Tehran a ton of goods can be put down at 700 ferans (£14), whilst from
Bushire the same amount to-day averages about 900 krdns (£18) when
not hampered by either riverain freight or transit duty, a difference of
£4 per ton or about 30 per cent., and, even under the most favourable
circumstances, with light charges on the Bushire route, the Baghdad route
has always an advantage over it..
It is, therefore, obvious that to enable our trade to compete with Russian
in the northern markets, the Baghdad route affords greater facilities than
the Bushire one.
It is evident that if the Baghdad railway be constructed, and if it be
extended to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , it will do much to increase the importance
of the Kirmanshah route and of the town as a port of entry for Persia.
When it is considered that from Basrah to Baghdad by the Shat-el-Arab
and the Tigris the distance is 510 miles, whilst as the crow flies the distance
is only 300 miles, and that now it costs as much to send goods from Bas
rah to Baghdad as to get them from London to Basrah, one will easily im
agine the enormous impetus which will be given to the Kirmanshah trade
by the cheapening of the cost of transport, a natural result of the railway
to Khaniqln and the Gulf.
With the completion of the Bakhtlari road, freights via Isfahan to
Tehran should average something on the same level as the above-quoted
rates lid Baghdad. But to enable us to fight Russian trade via the
Caspian with success even a lower rate than £14 a ton should be attain
able. There is no doubt but that the Luristan route via Dizffil, Khur-
ramabad, and Burujird could be opened up again. All that is required
is that in ’Arabistan ard Luristan there should be a good efficient Governors,
who would keep the Lurs in order and prevent them raiding the road. A
small subsidy paid the tribes, who are immediately adjacent to the road
or through whose territory it passes, would greatly assist in this.
From Kb.i rramabad, Kirmanshah could be supplied ; it is only some
10 miles distant, the land transit would thus be about the same as from
Baghdad. From Burujird the Hamadan market could also be served;
again the land transit would be practically the same.
As regards Sultanabad, Qum and Tehran, the service would be more
efficient and easier.
By taking advantage of the various rivers of Khuzistan and Luristan,
the Karun, Diz, Karkheh and the Shah Pur, either as a means to generate