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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎54r] (112/258)

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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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Report
and Survey of the Coast in the neighbourhood of Bandar Abbas with a view to
the best site for a commercial port.
determining
Part I.—Bandar Abbas.
Part II—Bandar Abbas to Puhal (both exclusive).
Part III.—Puhal.
Part IV.—Conclusions.
Map (1).—Persia—64 miles to 1 inch.
Map (2).—Bandar Abbas and neighbouring country—4 miles to 1 inch.
M\p (3).—Bandar Abbas—3 inches to 1 nautical mile.
Map (4)._Suru to the Rud-i*Kul—2 inches to 1 mile.
Map (5).—Puhal.
PART I.— Bandar Abbas.
( 1 ) The requirements of a good commercial port are ■
(a) A sheltered anchorage, easy of approach, with good holding grouncl close
to the shore (say within 2 miles), and with a sufficiency of room to give ships freedom
of movement. .
lb) Ample foreshore with steeply sloping beach allowing of the construction
of short jetties 1 where lighters can load and unload at all states of the tide and under
any conditions of wind. , , , _ , , ,
(c) Possibilities of a wharf where ships can be berthed and can deal with
cargo direct.
(d) On shore there should be sufficient room—
(i) For railway sidings and sheds.
(ii) For housing the labouring population.
(Hi) For a native town.
(iv) For a residential quarter.
(e) A good water supply.
(/) A good strategic position.
(g) Easily defended.
(h) Must be well situated as regards existing trade routes.
(i) Must provide a sufficiency of labour.
(j) Fuel and building material must be obtainable.
(2) Before considering how far Bandar Abbas meets these conditions, a short
description of the town as it exists is necessary. #
Bandar Abbas is 810 miles by sea from Karachi and 4^°®
naval coaling station. The town hes in fnu s approximately one and a
and is built on the extreme edge born the shore. The housesnum-
half miles m length and running back hal storeyed. The population,
ber about 1,000 and are all cl mud, many ° • es f jrnated at a maximum of
which varies considerably with the season of the year, is estimated
10,000 in the winter. , , f
, , . , are n0 streets, but each house or group of
(3) Except for the main bazaar th each enc l 0 sure is entirely separated
houses stands m its own enclosure ana, a. en tails a winding course round
from the one next to it; thus to pass toffilof any sok and the heavy sand
the various enclosures. There is now TAO tp^ tedious and slow. The only
both inside and outside the town makes a p gr ^ ; SS ential preliminary
stretch of good going is along the ^et fo^^tlnof amainroadand the lay-
to any work in Bandar Abbas would be
ing down of light lines.
C645FD

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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' [‎54r] (112/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943904.0x000071> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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