File 930/1912 'Mohammerah - Khoremabad Railway' [‎145r] (296/396)

£9
59. A Burujird-Kangavar railway could be constructed at an average cost of about
5,000b a-mile for 80 miles, say 800,000b ; it would connect with the Bagdad-
Kermanshah-Hamadan-Tehran line. The ruling gradient would be about 1 in 150.
It would pass for the whole of its length through thickly populated highly cultivated
. country,"' - and would be a most efficient feeder line. A cart-road with a ruling gradient
* of 1 in 25 could be built along the same alignment for about 3,000b, the principal
expense being caravanserais (six), bridges, and culverts.
60. Potentialities of the Burujird District.
Minerals .—I obtained information regarding several mines reported to exist near
Burujird. Gold was said to be found in one mine, and I was given a sample of the same,t
which I believe, however, to be simply micaceous sand. Lead ore was said to be found
in remunerative quantities, 5 farsakhs distant, the ore yields 25 per cent, of metal ; the
sample I was shown seemed of very good quality.! I was told at Nihawand that a
European mining expert had said that the hills of this town contained good grade
copper ore, but I had no opportunity of confirming this. I was told of a place west of
Burujird, called Fial, where good quality coal-beds were exposed ; the sample shown me
was bituminous ; it burnt wellx but has, I should say, no commercial value.
I was told that petroleum oil was found in the locality, and had been collected and
burnt in lamps
Geologically, the distinguishing feature of the country immediately north and
north-west of Burujird is that the limestone formation gives place to much c ntorted
finely laminated shales, extensively mixed with veins of intrusive rocks; the formation
would thus seem to be very favourable to the existence of metalliferous ores.
At Khoremabad I was shown specimen of bituminous coal from the Papi country
east of that town, of iron pyrites from the same locality, and of copper sulphate (zak or
zagh), but these minerals occur apparently in small quantities only on the surface, and
only the last-named (which is used for dyeing) is worked at all.
Agricultural Produce .—Cereals : Mainly consumed locally, or exported to other
parts of Persia.
Opium : Mainly consumed in Persia ; some 30,000b exported.
Gums, dried fruits (raisins, &c.) : Steady export to Bussia, which would be diverted
to south by railway.
Cotton, wool : Steady export to Bussia, which would be diverted to south by
Part V. —Possible Alignment for a Cart-road from Dizful to Burujird.
61. I have in the previous pages suggested the possibility of a cart-road between
Dizful and Burujird being preferable to a railway. For such a cart-road the Persian
Transport Company holds a concession, which will expire in May 1913, unless the road
is opened before that date. The one formidable obstacle which prevents it being built
at once is the prevailing anarchy in Luristan ; the Amir Mufakham has, however,
made a determined effort to open the road, I have little doubt that the fact of the road,
being in existence, and the pressure that we could exert on the Persian Government
to keep it open, would ensure eventual success. I have submitted a separate report
on this subject, and will confine myself here to state briefly the alignment which I
propose.
62. From Dizful to Jaidar the road would follow the general alignment proposed
for the railway, caravanserais being erected at the marginally noted spots.! ^ I rom the
Jaidar Plain through the Tang-i-Khirsdarr across the Kashgan to^ Pul, Maidan Bud,
this is the main ascent of the route, and the most expensive section, as the Kashgan
must be bridged, and an entrance to the gorge blasted. I went over this route and
found it well suited for a cart track, the gradients being generally moderate (1 in 25),
and the expense of grading the steep portions small. From Madian Bud to
Khoremabad via Chinar, Bardaghul, Dureh, and Naikash; this section was considered
by Major Burton to be fit in its present condition for wheeled artillery, and it could
certainly be converted into a cart-road at moderate expense. Caravanserais necessary *
* Silakhor Bala, ISihavand, and Kermanshah districts,
t Deposited in the Bushire 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. ,
f Kal’eh Husainieh, Kal’eh Riza, Jaozar, Ab-i-Fani, Jaidar.