Skip to item: of 258
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎105r] (214/258)

This item is part of

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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

11
] i oh able Hostility of Nomad Tvibes.
23. The laying of the line would have to be effected from railhead, there being no
point en route to which material could be conveyed otherwise. The preparation of the
track, however, could be prosecuted energetically from either end, and possibly from some
intermediate point also. On the whole, I think that we may take six to eight years
as the shortest probable period necessary tor the construction of this alignment!
24. If it is found possible to work commercially the early sections of a line before
the whole is opened to traffic, a sensible reduction can be effected in the heavy charges
that will otherwise be incurred for interest on capital expended. This can be done on
the Bushire-Dizgah section (100 miles), which, when opened to traffic, should bring in
an'appreciable revenue, and accustom the tribes to the idea of a railway before it
actually comes near them, a point of some importance. By this section, there should be
from the first a considerable volume of exports, e.g., wheat, barley, wood, dates, fire
wood, &c., but very few imports.
On the whole, the examination of the project, which I have carried out, brings me
to the conclusion that its commercial potentialities are not sufficiently great to justify
the construction of a Bushire-Jahrum connection as well as of a Bunder Abbas-Jahrum
connection, and if we accept the premise that from all points our general interests
require that preference should be given to the Bunder Abbas-Shiraz project, the Bushire-
Jahrum connection must remain in abeyance until the experience gained in the construc
tion and working of the Bunder Abbas line has indicated more precisely the general
prospects of railway construction in Fars.
At the same time, the geographical position of Bushire makes it certain that, as
the market town of a large area, whose population is estimated at not less than
150,000, 0 it will always retain a certain importance. In this connection, it would be
well not to attach undue importance to the disadvantages Bushire is supposed to possess
from the point of view of harbour accommodation. If the proposed connection is con
structed, the amount of traffic which it would attract is not likely to exceed 50,000
tons, which could be handled without difficulty by existing methods and progressive
adaptations thereof.
Whether this present project takes shape or not, Bushire must still remain one of
the three chief Persian ports of the Gulf and the head-quarters of the governor of the
Gulf ports, and, in consequence, of the chief representatives of foreign Powers in
Southern Persia and the Gulf. It is also the most central port in the neutral zor f e
under the Anglo-Bussian convention, and this fact makes it, one the one hand,
* Made up as follows •.—
Utilisation of the First Sections of the Line for Traffic.
Chakutah
Dashti ..
Dashtistan
Firuzabad
Haiatdaud
Kazvin..
Khisht..
Khurmuj
Lirawi..
Mazarai
Rudhilleh
Burazjan
Bushiie penin
Bushire town
Tangi stan
Zira
Ahram ..
Angali..
Arbaeh
Bandar Big
2.500
8.500
15.000
8.500
20.000
12.000
4.000
12.000
25.000
5.000
5n0
5.000
3.000
4.000
10.000
4.000
500
2.500
2.000
2,000

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.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎105r] (214/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00000f> [accessed 19 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00000f">File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [&lrm;105r] (214/258)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00000f">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000d0/IOR_L_PS_10_316_0220.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000d0/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image