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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎12r] (28/258)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (129 folios). It was created in 1912-1916. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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5
No. 1134, dated Coonoor, the 16th May 1914.
From—The Officer Commanding, R. I. M. S. “ Palinurus ”,
To—-The Director, Royal Indian Marine.
In accordance with your instructions contained in your Reference Sheet No.
2770 of 24th April 1914, I have the honour to submit the -following report on the
possibilities of a harbour in the Clarence Strait, and also on the ^Survey of Bandar
Abbas Roadstead.
Having completed a detailed survey of the Cj^ence Strait from Laft Point to
Bandar Abbas I have arrived at the opinion that the only points on the Mainland
side of the Straits which offer possibilities of a harbour are :—
(1) Bustaneh.
(2) Bandar Abbas.
(3) Laft Point.
In each case a considerable outlay would be necessary in order to meet the '
requirements of a modern commercial port. Of the three above-named points, I t
am strongly in favour of the Bustaneh area. In the case of the Laft Point Section
the disadvantages so far outweight the advantages that it might, in my opinion,
be eliminated. I
The Bustaneh Area. —Bustaneh village is situated 570° West 16 miles from
Bandar Abbas.
Depths and Anchorage. —This section was surveyed on a scale of 2" = 1 Sea
mile (see tracing) soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. in fathoms
Tides and Currents . L . W . 0 . S. It shows an average depth of
Spring rise .. .. 12 eet. 40 feet at low water ordinary springs and a
Neap nse .. .. = 9 feet. least depth of 32 feet, over an anchorage
Currents set EasCNorth East and West-South- ^ of ^ re mi , es _ ^
West seldom more than 1 knot per hour. * i , ,
shoals or rocky patches and the bottom
throughout being a mixture of sand and mud, it affords excellent holding ground.
Protection. —The anchorage is well protected from the shafc^al (which is the
prevailing wind and here blows from the South-West and West-South-West) by the
middle grounds which are long sand banks parallel to the coast. It is also well
sheltered from the Northward by the high ranges of hills behind, it is however open
to the Eastward, but wind from this direction is of infrequent occurrence.
Approach. —There are no dangers in the approach and if the northern end of
the middle bank and the spit off Sum were marked vessels could proceed without
pilotage after rounding Kishm direct to the Port, due regard being given to the
rise of tide which is 12 feet at springs and 9 feet at Neaps.
Low line and foreshore. —The low line dries out from 4 to 6 cables from the
high line, and this distance consists of a bed of dead coral and shells, forming a
sort of concrete, covered with stiff sand and mud varying from 2 feet near the shore
to 7 and 8 feet close to the low line. I have taken sectional borings from the
high to the low line in the neighbourhood of Bustaneh and have retained samples
of the concrete foundation. The low line 2 miles east of Bustaneh is steep to, the
3 and 5-fathom lines being respectively about 180 and 200 yards distant from it.
This would appear a suitable place if the construction of Piers was contemplated.
The beach is good firm sand.
Bustaneh ^snec^.—Bustaneh is a thriving village of about 50 houses with a
Persian Customs Post. The country to the ^Northward an,d Eastward has a com
paratively fertile appearance with extensive date plantations. The soil is sandy
covered with low scrub. The country behind is undulated and rising gradually
inland to a series of low hills l£ miles distant. A range of hills rising to 950 feet
known as the Koh-i-Namak range lies 2| miles to the North-West of Bustaneh,
and the Khun Sukhr range rising 1,500 feet lies 5 miles to the ^ ®rth and Is orth-East,
the gap between the two ranges occurs about 4 miles North of Bustaneh.
c44fd

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and maps relating to the development of railways projects in South Persia and the associated marine surveys of Gulf ports, notably Bandar Abbas and Bushire.

The volume includes the report of Lieutenant Arnold Talbot Wilson on the technical issues concerning development of railway lines between Bushire and Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas and Shiraz. Also included is a report on the commercial possibilities of these two developments, compiled by Commercial Adviser, H G Chick. These reports (folios 101-124) are preceded by an accompanying summary and analysis by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Percy Zachariah Cox.

Also discussed in the correspondence is the question of concessions for railways in the neutral zone and the relative advantages (climate, water supply) of Bushire and Bandar Abbas as railway termini in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The correspondence also features discussion of a rumoured German scheme for a Bushire-Shiraz railway.

Further discussion surrounds the arrangements for marine survey work in the region of Henjam and Bandar Abbas to be undertaken by the RIMS Palinurus. A report by the Captain of the Palinurus, Captain B W Mainprise is included along with three marine survey maps (folios 48-50).

The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Consul General for Fars (Lieutenant Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); (Lieutenant Colonel Stuart George Knox); First Assistant to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Captain L Birdwood; Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department; Under Secretary of State, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Louis Mallet); Director, Royal Indian Marine, Walter Lumsden; Officer Comanding, RIMS Palinurus ( Captain B W Mainprise); Secretary to the Government of India, Marine Department.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (129 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 4648 (Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports) consists of 1 volume, IOR/L/PS/10/316. The explanation of the cover sheet/divider at the front of each volume (regarding the correspondence series numbers which have been put together to form the volumes) will be given in the Scope and Content.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 127; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎12r] (28/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943904.0x00001d> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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