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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎39r] (82/258)

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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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CONFIDENTIAL.
Dated Roorkee, the 16th February 1914.
From—C aptain B. W. Mainprise, R.E.,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
As I understand that the Naval authorities have discovered certain points in
favour of Bustaneh as a terminus for the Trans-Persian Railway, I am forwarding
herewith a report on Bustaneh which might be attached as an Addendum to the
. Report submitted to you on 26th October last, “ Report and Survey of the Coast
in th e neighbourhood of Bandar Abbas with a view tD determining the best site for a
■ commercial port.”
( 2 ) This addendum has been prepared from the notes in my diary and also
after questioning Naik Rajah Ali, 106th Pioneers, who, when surveying that part,
was camped at Bustaneh for five days.
( 3 ) I also forward the following information to be added to paragraph (e),
Part III—Puhal, of the Report
M
&' ^ /v
tjUuh |
x,
*
Captain Biscoe, British Consul at Bandar Abbas, states :—“ I am afraid
that the two springs of which you heard in the hills near Puhal are
useless ; firstly, they are both very brackish, and, secondly, the two
combined would not supply sufficient water for the inhabitants of
a fair-sized village. One is the merest trickle, and the other but little
more, and in any case they are both unfit for drinking purposes. The
local shepherd drinks from them for lack of better, but even he com
plains, so you can imagine they must be pretty bad.”
( 4 ) I return by registered post the tracings sent me last month, viz. : —
Bandar Abbas—Puhal Survey.
Section No. I—Bandar Abbas.
Section No. II—Suru to the Rud-i-Kul.
Section No. Ill—Puhal.
Addendum to “ Report and Survey of the'Coast in the neighbourhood of Bandar Abbas
with a view to determining the best site for a commercial port.
Report on Bustaneh.
Bustaneh is a village of some hundred houses situated on the coast about 25
miles west of Bandar Abbas. From the hills immediately west of the village a
■rood green limestone is available which the villagers work up into hand-mdl stones
ind send to Basrah in small sailing vessels. At the time of visiting Bustaneh
(September 1913) there were at least 1,000 such stones collected on the beach ready
foi shipment. completely sheltered to the south-west and south by
( } k" island and partially so to the east by Hormuz. The deta.'s of
the approach, size of anchorage, tide, bottom, etc., must be determined
from the Admiralty charts. It is understood that these are favour-
(h\ The foreshore is ample and consists of good, firm sand. Judging by the
distance at which the sailing boats were riding at anchor, and by the
position of the fishermen’s traps, the foreshore shelves slowly. The ,
P ' ctqtps ind mv own recollection confirms his statement,
SYow t^ export lU 500 yards of sand To give, therefore
a minimum depth of 6 feet at low water it is probable that jetties CwO
to 700 yards in length would be required.
(c) If the conditions noted above are proved to exist, wharf would not be
India, Foreign Secretary's
No J 7 ol, dated
?n af .

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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' [‎39r] (82/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943904.0x000053> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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