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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎73v] (151/258)

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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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2
3. As regards landing facilities, there is a ^hort masonry pier, but IJahf
can only come alongside it at high tide, and at low water it is high and dry* T S
permit of goods being discharged at all states of the tide and to permit 0 f
launches and heavily-laden barges being brought alongside it would be neces °
to extend this for a distance of about 100 yards, an operation w r hich would^
should think, present no particular difficulty, but regarding which I am ha HI
competent to form an opinion. ^
Climate .—Bandar Abbas enjoys an evil reputation both as regards unhealth'
ness and heat. As regards the former I have no hesitation in stating that it
is unmerited. The actual town itself is probably extremely unhealthy owing
it’s filthy and squalor, but for Europeans who would doubtless live outside th°
town as they do in Bushire the place is certainly not unhealthy.
As regards climate, here again surroundings play an important part. The
winter is extremely pleasant, the summer hot and damp. The actual temperature
however is not very high, and probably compares favourably with many places
in India. No official temperature records are maintained, but a thermometer
placed in a verandah registers normally 96° to 102° F. during June, July and
August. The nights are almost invariably cool. If Europeans ‘ had some of the
amenities of civilisation they .vould not find the summer very trying.
_ Water-supply. The water-supply is limited and bad, though drinkable
It is mostly obtained from surface wells about a mile distant from the town
Should the place ever develop to any considerable extent it would present a
serious problem It is possible that an artesian water-supply might be obtained
and as ,t would probably no, cost very much it w ould certainly sfen, worth whl
experimenting m this direction. This could perhaps be done 'in connection with
the railway survey which is being carried out at present.
Alternative fort.—h has been suggested that it would probably be
expedient to create a new port to the westwards towards the Clarence Straits a, d
he anchorage at Laft point has been proposed. If a new port is to be created
hen the mam land directly oppos.te Laft point is the only possible alternative
for the whole way along the north shore of the Clarence Straits from ’
miles west of Bandar Abbas till opposite Laft point there are Iholls n^ h it
sand ; these shoals as will be seen from a glance at the chan ev.en f,° , n't
g^hm r0 Apir e oac t hing Laft hllwew^htrare shoah'^f^h^d's 0
SKMA th “ -
&
th^commermaf poiit°of^v^^ it'wmalcf ^mlTto S’Tf ■ Sn
compensating gain. " its drawbacks without much
(»•) the W presen~"anchorage 'is^*V'miles ' 1 out S ^ e -d er r e ^ T prac,ical, y aM "-eathcrs:
harbour has however never been nr 1 a,J d to the east of the town: the
probability of finding an anchorage fiTI f eyed ’. a , n ( d ther f seem s to be a
opposite the town, (m) There ^ fathoms half a mile closer in and
nnH ,*f «rrv,,in u . present no proper landing arrangements
about i
of the
nd dan
anchorage off Laft point is the'offiy 7orsiffie P ah ^ ^ • , • • ' '
but has a most intricate and difficult approach natlVe ln thls neighbourhood,
and it would be necessary to construct a nier P t r ° per landin g arra ngements
of lighters, etc., comin^ alongside at all P r a i b °L t a * 100 ^ arcls ^ 011 g t0 permit
unhealthy; during summer the climate is hot^ ° ^ ^ The P ° rt is not
many places in India (u) The ? n< ^- ^ amp dut not fnore so than in
anchors off f ^ water-supply is bad and limited, (zff) The
if*r\ o f 1 /-v 1 1
CnFD * 44 ——GCBP Simla

About this item

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' [‎73v] (151/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943904.0x000098> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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