File 1702/1910 Pt 1 'Railways: Persia; Khoremabad-Dizful-Mohammerah Railway' [‎161r] (69/546)

The best possible guarantee that he will bestir himself, and the best chance of
his giving effect to the scheme, will be afforded by the deputation to Luristan of an
engineer by the Persian Transport Compan} 7 , empowered to negotiate and provided
with the necessary orders from the central Government to the Governor-General.
tk competent engineer once on the spot, difficulties will vanish in the face of a deter
mined effort to get the thing done, an effort which the company have yet to make.
5. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the Persian Transport Company
have more reason at the present moment than, perhaps, at any previous time to hesitate
before embarking on this enterprise. They have not as yet obtained an extension of
their concession, though, were they to start work promptly, they might still get the
road into working order before the 22nd August, 1912. For 70 miles or so the caravan
track does not correspond with the proposed cart-track alignment, which diverges
between KaTeh Riza and Birinjzar, and runs to Jaidar across the Kashgan to Madian
Rud, and thence to Khoremabad.
6. A decision on the part of His Majesty’s Government to press the construction
of the cart-road through Luristan might be held by the company to render much of
their expenditure on the Kiyalan route unproductive, though not necessarily so, as, for
some years to come, traffic would have to be solely by pack mules, which would
naturally be taken over the Kiyalan route. Upon this and allied questions the opinion
of an experienced engineer would be of value.
7. Should the company decide to commence work on the caravan route, I am of
the opinion that they should, for the present, deal with the tribes through the Governor-
General, and not direct, as the chiefs are quite untrustworthy and incapable of enforc
ing compliance by their followers with the terms of any agreement which they may
conclude.
8. The transfer of the u Malamir ” subsidy to the Luristan road would, no doubt,
be a great inducement to the company to commence work on a caravan track indepen
dently of the cart track or railway question, and I venture to express a hope that the
proposal will not be lost sight of in this connection.
I have, &c.
A. T. WILSON,
Lieutenant, I. A.