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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎104v] (213/258)

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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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10
assure those concerned that a Bushire connection would not react unfavourably on th
main line, it remains to ascertain what fresh markets would be tapped by such a line
16. The sedentary population that would be served by a Bushire-Shiraz lin^ i s
estimated at 232,000, of which 184,000 would also be served by a Bunder Abbas-
Shiraz line. (I take the country for about 50 miles on either side as the most that
line of railway could effectively serve.) the remaining 48,000 inhabit the followino-
districts which a Bushire connection might be expected to tap :—
Abram (town)
Arba’eh ..
Dashti
Dizgah
Farrashband
Tangistan..
1,500
12,500
20,000
2,000
2.000
10,000
(Say, 10,000 families.)
48,000
The nomadic population would probably continue to draw their supplies principally
from Shiraz itself, and send their wool, &c., there for sale. I am, therefore, leaving
them out of account as far as this line is concerned.
It will be seen that the line taps a very small additional population. This is
because it passes through the least populous parts of Ears, where the climatic
conditions make any very considerable increase of exports improbable. In the most
fertile districts (Dashti and Tangistan) the sea-borne traffic would be in competition
with the railway, with what result it is hard to say. As much as 3 tons of grain per
family might be available for export in a good year, giving a total of 30,000 tons; but
two-thirds of this is grown within 25 miles of a seaport, and cannot be considered as
a new source of supply. It should be borne in mind, too, that the greatest quantity of
grain ever yet exported from Bushire and dependent ports is only 22,000 tons, and that
the average annual export in a good year does not exceed 10,000 tons.
In addition to grain, the principal exports from the districts mentioned above
would be wood, charcoal, dairy produce, dates, dried fruits, opium, gum, and tobacco.
These might total in the aggregate 2,000 tons.
Import Traffic.
17. Once Bunder Abbas has been connected by railway with Shiraz and trade directed
to that line, I find it difficult to believe that any large proportion of the import trade
would revert to Bushire as a result of the construction of the proposed branch line,
vvlnch feeds no markets of note en route. Of the 20,000 tons now imported at Bushire
the branch line could not be expected to secure more than 2,000 tons.
Passenger Traffic.
18. ^ This factor is very difficult to estimate; it would be largely seasonal in
connection with the annual pilgrimages to Kerbela and Mecca, but the population of
ersia is so small that, beyond this, no large movement by rail is to be expected.
Mineral Traffic.
19. I have submitted as an appendix to my report on the proposed Bunder Abbas
me a s a emen giv mg details of such mineral deposits as are reported to exist in Ears:
i ls su cien o no e here that though the tract has not been geologically examined,
of^ep^c n ° 1 ^ aS ° n ^mk that any important deposits exist in the vicinity
Gradient.
he 1 in' l P r . ac ^ ca bl e ruling gradient on the Bushire-Shiraz line to
1 wi ™ * i “
Supply of Labour.
shouldbJa'va^ class of fairly cheap labour

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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' [‎104v] (213/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00000e> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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