Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎46v] (92/320)

90
4nother mill of 4,000 spindles is operated by the Dehkan Brothers who also
own the Pars Electric Company Power Plant on adjoining premises. This mill
Equipped with German spinning machinery, the driving power being supplied
from tlm Power Station with two Mirrlees engines of 130 H. 1 ■ each and a German
/t> 7 \ p n m n e of 500 H.P. and alternators by the British Ihomson Houston Com
pany" The mill commenced production of 30-count yarn in the Spring o 1937.
Ft therefore does not compete with the older established mill. It is only working
on one shift with 180 employees.
A permit for another mill to have 6,000 spindles was obtained by the Dehkan
Brothers in 1936, but building has not yet commenced.
Six sets of cotton ginning machinery have been ordered from the limited States
of America, and two have been erected in Shiraz and in Kaserun. They are to
be operated by the Sherket-i-Panbeh which has branches at various centres in
the Province.
The Government was understood to be contemplating the establishment of
a large mill for weaving cotton print at Shiraz but exchange difficulties have held
this up.
Sugar refinery.—In 1934, the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the construc
tion of a sugar factory An East India Company trading post. at Merv Dasht, some 25 miles to the north of Shiraz. Ihe
work was later handed over to a Swedish firm of contractors and completed.
Machinery has been supplied by the Skode Works, including two 750 H.P. engines
and three 250 sq. metre boilers. Beetroot has been sown in the surrounding plain
and in many other districts around Shiraz. The factory An East India Company trading post. pays the cultivator 30
dinars per man for his beet, which makes it a profitable crop. 1 lie Government,
which owns the factory An East India Company trading post. , has made large profits. During the season ending in the
winter of 1936-37, 40,000 tons of beet were used yielding 7,200 tons of sugar. It
is said, however, that this costs 200% more to produce than European sugar c. i. f.
Bushire. Local sugar was on the market at a price slightly lower than imported
sugar for a few months, but it has now been replaced by Russian sugar.
Weaving. —In addition to the old carpet industry of Shiraz, a small Company
was floated recently by the Agricultural Bank under the style of Sherket-i-Sanayi-
Dasti (Handicraft Co.), which has imported fifty hand-weaving looms from India,
which it is proposed to sell to weavers on the instalment plan, payment being effect
ed by the products of the looms.
Wine making. —Another small Company floated by the Agricultural Bank is
the Sherket-i-Khollar, which manufactures wine and spirits in a modern factory An East India Company trading post. .
The output is sufficient for local requirements. A German engineer is in charge.
Electric poiver and lighting. —The town of Shiraz is well lighted by Fars Electric
Company, whose plant is furnished with Mirrlees Diesel engines. Another similar
engine has been ordered and is at present in the Customs at Bushire. The require
ments of the cotton mill, already mentioned, and of the Municipality wi\\ give a
twenty-four hour demand for power, which would enable a day and night service
to be maintained for other consumers. At present the Company is under contract
to the Municipality to supply a ten-hour service through the night. The price per
unit was reduced from Rials 5 to Rials 3- 50 at the No Rouz.
Projected industrial undertakings. —Plans have been considered for a Govern
ment cement factory An East India Company trading post. , a pottery factory An East India Company trading post. , and for soap and perfumery works.
State undertakings and public utilities .—
First in order of importance amongst Public Works are the extensive Army
barracks, which have been completed this year. They house six thousand soldiers
and are said to have cost 50 million rials. For some time the building has given
employment to many of the idle population of the town and surrounding districts.
The Ministry of Education is building an expensive monument in granite
near the Tomb of the Poet Hafiz. The old site, known as the Hafizieh, has been
pulled down and is being rebuilt with a gallery supported on twenty imposing stone
columns overlooking grounds laid out with fountains and flower beds.
The cemetery extending from the Hafizieh to the River has been enclosed with
a wall and laid out as a public garden, the grave stones being used to build terraces.