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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎103r] (210/258)

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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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7
Section 4. Pidu (1,200 feet) to Gird Bisheh (1,500 feet), 12 miles.
i 1S Na , 2 ’ but the alignment, instead of running
parallel to tlie strike of the lulls, cuts them nearly at right angles. For the first
2 miles, as tar as the Abhal date grove, the line runs over the Pidu Plain - it then
turns north-east and then east again over the Maidanak plateau, parallel to the’strike of
the hills, to 5 miles. Then begin the hills. To suggest any particular alignment would
he impossible without a detailed survey. The range, which is about 6 miles in breadth, is
narrower at this point than anywhere else, and also lower. It consists of a succession'of
sandstone and gravel ridges, parallel to each other, consisting of a strata tilted north
wards at an upward angle of about 20 degrees; the cross section of the rano- e
resembles the edge of a saw.^ The ridges gradually increase in height towards the
north, attaining a maximum height in the vicinity of the alignment of some 1,900 feet.
They are pierced by numerous winding ravines running south to the Pidu Plain; the
watershed, north of which the hills drain to the Mund, is not reached till 3 miles south
of fxird Bisheh, the point where it is surmounted by the mule track is known as the
Tm kan Pass (1,650 feet). If the last and highest ridge crossed by this path be pierced,
a tunnel about half-a-mile long and other smaller ridges either cut through or pierced by
tunnels of 300 or 400 yards, the line need not rise above 1,500 feet, and there should be
no difficulty in obtaining a gradient of 1 in 100.
I classify this section as follows:—
£
£
Tunnel
4 mile, at 80,000
40,000
Difficult
6 miles, at 8,000
48,000
Heavy valley .. .. .. * ..
3 „ „ 6,000
18.000
Easy valley
21 „ „ 4,000
10,000
12 „ „
116.000
Add for previous sections ..
165 „ „
669,000
Running total
177 „ costing ..
785,000
Section 5.— Gird Bisheh (1,500 feet) to Kalat (1,900 feet), 46 miles.
We now follow the Mund Valley for nearly 50 miles. The best alignment from
Gird Bisheh seems to keep for some miles on the south (left) bunk at a distance of 1 or
2 miles from the river, eventually crossing the river at 1,400 feet, traversing the
Karakash Plain, and heading directly for the Tang-i-Shahriyari (1,500 feet), reached at
9 miles. This stretch offers no special difficulties; the Mund is hereabout 40 yards
broad, 1 ft. 6 in. deep in summer, flowing in a bed some 20 feet deep. There will be
a good deal of rock cutting and embanking, as the valley and plain are undulating, and
intersected by low but narrow rocky ridges; no difficulty should be experienced in
obtaining a gradient of 1-150 to 1-200.
The Karakash Plain is not cultivated, but is capable of irrigation, and could support
a large population.
9. At 9 miles we reach to the Tang-i-Shahriyari, a winding gorge 9 miles long, the
last 4 mdes being practically straight; there should be no serious difficulty in carrying
the line through it, as the sides, particularly the northern, or right, bank, is not
precipitous. A 400 or 500 yards tunnel will be required just before Sulleh (14 miles) to
pierce a limestone spur round which the river runs, and which it would be incon\ement
to surmount or circumvent. On reaching the date grove of Ab-bad (18 miles) tie gorge
ends, and the Laghar Plain lies before us. , . ,
10. Following the general trend of the river, the alignment, a.ter crossing the
right bank, trends northwards, leaving Chah Kazimha and Makku (1>69 ^6 ) 011 e
left bank, and passes close to the village of Laghar, reached at 20 mi es , i ^ mn ^ unis
west again, following the river and crossing it probably at some pom near aim
(1,700 feet . Over "the plain the going is very easy indeed ; from Laghar to Makku
a certain amount of rock cutting would be necessary as the g roimd ,! s
cut up by ravines, but no special difficuty presents itself and t ic £ ia(tu11 ^ X1 f
gentle. Three miles east of Ab Garm on the left bank stands the v.Uage of Kudi
if the river be crossed at Laghar, a fairly easy alignment to the Afzar Plain pass ..

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' [‎103r] (210/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00000b> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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