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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎110v] (225/258)

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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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town, but a commercial centre of some importance, and the market town of th
Kulmelu tribes.
Mohammerah (or Khor Musa) to Behbehan Alignment.

36. From Mohammerah the line would have to cross at 4 or 5 miles either th
Kanin or the Bahmanshir by a high level bridge to avoid interference with traffic - this
would be difficult and costly. Both rivers are from 25 to 30 feet deep and 150 yards
or so broad near Mohammerah. It would then have to traverse some 35 miles of desert
to Fallahieh, of which 10 are permanently and 15 occasionally under 1 to 3 f ee t
of water, and the whole in winter and spring is soft and yielding. At lallahieh a maze
of irrigation channels must be crossed, and then some 35 miles desert, of which 15
are always marshy, till the Jarrahi is crossed, some 50 yards broad in a bed 30 feet deep
in alluvial soil and liable to cut its banks suddenly.
The next 30 miles are flat till the Hindian (Marun) River is first touched near
Gargari.
The remaining 45 are not particularly difficult; the line would probably follow
the Khairabad stream to Behbehan, reached at about 150 miles.
It was desired to run a line from Khor Musa to Fallahieh, a distance of some
15 miles ; it would have to be taken entirely through heavy marsh, flooded in winter to
a depth of several feet.
Behbehan to Shiraz Alignment.
37. Not having been over this country I am unable to describe it in details, and
we have no information at all regarding a possible alignment up the Zohreh River from
the Zaidan Plain to its source in the neighbourhood of Pul-i-Must (3,360 feet).
If the Du Gunhazan-Basht track be followed gypsum hills are struck at 19 mil«
and left at 23 miles ; at 28 miles more low hills are struck, and a descent is then made
into a wide valley. At 53 miles it enters a narrow stony valley ; at 54 miles a steep
ascent to a high pass, followed by a sharp descent. At 64 miles there is a sudden rise
to a difficult pass, riding being almost impossible for 3 miles; this is followed by a
descent to the village of Basht, reached at 77-g miles.
At 80 miles more hills are entered and a river crossed ; the line then runs up a
small valley and crosses a pass at 74miles, followed by a sharp descent to the Tang-i-
Mura, reached at 86 miles. A swampy plain is then crossed to 94 miles. At 93 miles
a watershed is reached, and at 95|- miles the village of Tal Ispid in the Fahlian valley.
After crossing a plain the road at 100 miles becomes a difficult mule track along the
gorge of Rud-i-Shul or Ab-i-Fablian till at 105 miles ; it then crosses a pass and
descends again to Pul-i-Murt at 111 ^- miles. The alternative alignment referred to
above joins in here.
A deep gorge is now followed to 120 miles, and at 126 miles a pass is crossed.
From 130 to 142 miles the line has to pass over a series of deep ravines and defiles
separated by hills, several of the ravines being 100 feet deep. At 149 miles there is a
sharp rise by a stony track to a small pass, reached at 160 miles. After passing
through low hills for 2 miles, and over an uncultivated slope to 168 miles, the track
becomes easy, passing through a well cultivated valley till Shiraz is reached at
180 miles.
08 . It appears from the above figures that a line from Ahwaz to Shiraz via
Behbehan would be 300 miles long, from Mohammerah via Behbehan 330 miles, on the
assumption that the line was no longer than the mule track ; but it is safe to assume
that the total length w-ould not be less than 360 miles, owing to the necessity of
approaching the steep passes by circuitous routes so as to avoid impossible gradients,
is line has therefore no advantage in point of length over those from Bushire or
unc ei Abbas, and it is plain from the above brief description of it that it would be
very expensh e and difficult to construct. Lieutenant Hopkins estimated the probable
length from Bundar Dilam to Shiraz at 210 miles; adding 140 miles from Mohammerah
to Du am we arrive at a total of 350 miles (see Appendix II).
.. 1 ^ seems plain that this line would be extremely difficult to construct, on account
o ae utter opposition that may be expected from the various wild tribes whose
erri oiy would be traversed by the line. Its value, it seems generally recognise ,
wou d )e purely strategical, and a concession for it is desirable solely in order to block
necessary t e possible extension of the Bagdad Railway in this direction.

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
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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎110v] (225/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00001a> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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