'A note on communications and irrigation in the Persian province of Arabistan' [‎6v] (17/34)

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At present the procedure for the despatch of goods from Mohammerah to, say,
the oilfields, is as follows :—
(a) Overside from the steamer lying in the stream to a barge, and thence to
Mohammerah.
(b) From Mohammerah to Nasiri (below Ahwaz) by country boat or river
steamer.
(c) From Nasiri to Ahwaz by tramway or by mules.
(d) Ahwaz to Dharra Khazina by steamer or country boat.
(e) Dharra Khazina to the oilfields by pack animal transport.
14. By rail, goods could be placed from the steamer's hatch on to a railway
wagon at Basra, conveyed to Ahwaz and thence taken all the way to the fields by
road, or by river and road, as might be found most convenient. It may here be
noted that the dam across the river at Ahwaz proposed by Major Morton would
greatly improve navigation as far as Shushter.
As the country developed, there would be a great export trade in grain, cotton,,
sugar, etc., and the left bank of the river at Basra would, in time, develop as Karachi
has developed, with wharves and cranes, or grain elevators.
Further, with the building of the proposed new motor road to Isfahan and its
ultimate conversion into a railroad, and the building of a railway from Ahwaz to
Dizful, Basra would become the chief port and great distributing centre for the whole
of South Western Persia, and a large goods trade and an equally large passenger
trade would be assured.
NECESSITY FOR SURVEYS.
15. It must be understood that the foregoing remarks are made subject to their
confirmation or otherwise when detailed surveys have been executed.
As in Mesopotamia, so in Arabistan, the first requirements are engineering
surveys of the country and its examination by a committee of experts.
DRAWBACK TO THE SCHEMES.
16. The drawback to these schemes is that they affect an independent
sovereign state, which may object to the development of the country and the
institution of a foreign town such as Basra for its principal port ; and discussion on
this phase I must leave to the Political department. I am satisfied as to the:
economic advantages of the proposals and their effect on British trade.
Simla ;
The 10th September 1917-
GEORGE C. BUCHANAN,
G. M. Press, Simla.—No. Cl05(w)A.D.—18-9-17—500-M.B.G.