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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎107r] (218/258)

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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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15
the Firuzabad alignment personally, though I have seen a considerable proportion of the
Jaluum-Firuzabad section from the top of hills near Madkhum. P 10 P 0rtl0n ot the
I traversed t le Kaia -^gach \alley alignment in April 1907 and the r
^nent in September 1911 and am satisfied that the shortest and most ce.drafahgnmSt
is up the Kara Agach Valley, as described below. alignment
Relation of a Bunder Abbas-Shiraz Project to other Projected Railways Pars.
11. The population of Fars is so small that it is unlikely that sufficient traffic will
exist for many years to make more than one line from the Gulf to Shiraz profitable as a
commercial speculation; the projects which, if they took shape, would compete with
a Bunder Abbas-Shiraz railway are (1) a Bnshire-Jahrum connection; (2) a
Mohammerah (or Khor Musa) Rehbehan-Shiraz railway. I have already submitted
a separate report regarding the former, and in Part III of this report I have endeavoured
to fucus such information as is available regarding the latter project, the value of which
would appear to be purely strategical. It is, however, important to secure an option
for it in order to block, if necessary, the possible extension of the Bagdad Railway in
this connection.
Shiraz-1 spahan Line.
1-2. Two other projects for railways in Fars are ancillary to a Bunder Abbas-Shiraz
line : they are ( 1) a Shiraz-Ispahan line ; (2) a Shiraz-Kerman line.
Without the former, the Bunder Abbas-Shiraz line cannot attain its full develop
ment, as pointed out in paragraph 9, and it seems of great importance to us to obtain an
option for its construction immediately the line to Shiraz is completed. Such
information as is available in regard to it is given in Part III of this report.
Shiraz-Kerman Line.
13. The Shiraz-Kerman project has little to recommend it, except as the extension
eastwards of a Mohammerah-Shiraz line, but it seems desirable, to secure an option
for its construction as there seems a possibility that it will tap important copper and
lead mines which are at present quite inaccessible. These are situated at Sar-i-Dasht,
latitude 29° 30', longitude 55° 5', on route 22, between Shiraz and Kerman, 141 miles
from the latter (see Appendix (III) ). (A recommendation to this effect was made 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. in his telegram of the 20th December, 1910,
to the Government of India.)
Security of a Bunder Abbas Line against interference by Tribes, £c.
14. The Bunder Abbas-Shiraz line passes through almost desert country, mostly
waterless, to within a few miles of Lar, a distance of 125 miles, and would only be
subject to raids from the Baharlu (Khamseh) on the last 25 miles of this section. In
Lar itself no great difficulty need be apprehended, and the town would be a useful
centre from which action could be taken for the repression of disorders. I rom Lar to
Jahrum the country is frequented but little by nomads, though subject to raids from
them. There is a sparse sedentary populution in villages along the line, and the tribes
have, I believe, no claim to ownership of any part of the lands traversed, whose actual
owners would undoubtedly welcome the line.
From Jahrum to Shiraz the line passes through closely populated fertile country,
owned principally by the Kawami family or by Shiraz notables, who would there is no
doubt, hail with delight the project of a railway through their lands, and the increased
security and profit which it could not fail to bring. These lands are not frequented to
any extent by nomad tribes, though they are, of course, subject to raids.
Gradient.
15. I estimate the best practicable
1 in 100, compared with 1 in 40 on a
With regard to gradient are only likely
rulino- gradient on a Bunder Abbas-Shiraz line at
Mohammerah-Shiraz line.* Serious difficulties
to be found between Lar and Jahrum.
* Vide Lieutenant Hopkins’s report, Appendix I of this report.

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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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎107r] (218/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x000013> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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