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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎73r] (150/258)

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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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nOMFiDENTlAL,
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No. 1267 , dated Bushire, the 20 th (received 28 th) April 1913 ,
From— Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.CI.E, C.S.I., Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, Simla.
With reference to my letter No. 198, dated 19th January 1913, to the /
Government of India, I have the honour to forward for the information of l
Government a Note drawn up by His Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Bandar Abbas
on the existing harbour conditions and possibilities of that port.
2. The information and observations contained in Captain Biscoe’s
communication suggest that quite apart from the question of the possible need •
for shifting the harbour further up the Clarence Strait, in certain eventualities,
there is a good deal that could be done to improve the anchorage and lighterage
facilities of the present port.
The fact that a vessel of the ordinary type of cargo vessel visiting the port,
can find a safe anchorage 2 miles nearer the Customs Pier than the present
buoyed anchorage is in itself sufficient evidence that the approaches need
surveying. 1 venture therefore to press the recommendation made in my letter
above-quoted, that an expert examination of the position should be undertaken at
an early date.
A r o/# on the port of Bandar Abbas.
The port of Bandar Abbas possesses one outstanding advantage^namely, that
it is sheltered by a natural breakwater of islands from almost all winds ; it shares
however with Bushire the drawback of a very gradually shelving beach, with the
result that ships have to anchor a considerable distance from the shore. ^ orr J
any wind except the south-east the islands of Qishm, Larak and Hormuz afford
ample protection. Against the south-east wind the port is not protected to
the same extent but even when this is blowing it is seldom rough enough to
hamper the discharge of cargo: moreover the south-east wind blows but seldom
here and almost invariably seems to veer round to south-w r est. I his latter is
the prevailing wind and blows for probably 300 days in the year. In snort as
far as shelter is concerned, the port leaves little to be deswed. 1 here is of course
no monsoon, and practically no rough weather of any kind in summer.
2. As regards the anchorage the position is as follows*
The present buoy marking the 4 fathom anchorage is 2 miles out and to the
eastward of the town. It was moved to the eastward at my suggestion solely
to facilitate sailing boats going off to ships in the prevailing south-west wind.
Four fathoms may, I think, be regarded as sufficient water for the ordinary
steamers that come up the Gulf: the large majority of them anchor alongside
the buoy, and a good many come well inside it. I do not know whether it would
be possible to find an anchorage closer in, but the harbour has not been surveyed
for a great many years, and many masters of ships have told me that the
existing^ charts are of ve^ doubtful accuracy. It would therefore be necessary
to survey the entire port anew, and in this connection I venture to append the
following information which 'has kindly been supplied to me by CaPUm Grant
of the S S. “ Bahrain, ” who never anchors at the buoy, but goes close t,
opposite the town. He writes "My position for anchorage is 2 ° fee ‘
if W. S. Customs Flagstaff N. 9 W., Consulate Flagstaff N. <to ^YA' Vthe
of Hormuz S. 64 W., all bearings magnetic. This position is «
Customs Flagstaff and the way to approach 't 1S 0 , therefore that
N. 9 W. and come straight in on that bearing. 1 U will b e, seen therefore that
20 feet of water can be found a mije out, and 4 fa 10ms wou P were
not more than ij miles out. It is possible t ere ore ‘ . .1 present
carried out an anchorage might be found a goo ea development^ t he
one. If this was the case then the present drawback to the developmen^ot the
port would be in some measure removed, and it wou se 1
to become the terminus of the projected rail a ay.
/. r
/Did

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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.

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English in Latin script
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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎73r] (150/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943904.0x000097> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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