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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎119v] (243/258)

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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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Produce along Shiraz—Bunder Abbas Alignment
From Shiraz to Jahrum the districts traversed would be the same as on ft
suggested Bushire-Shiraz alignment, and it might be presumed that the greater D t
of the available produce from Ispahan and Fars, estimated at some 6,090 tons most f
which at present passes by Bushire, could follow a Bunder Abbas alignment equall
as well. ( ^
As has been shown in Tables II and III, from "the Fars side there'exists no exnorf
traffic from the hinterland of Bunder Abbas, and practically none behind Lingah • th
is no output of gum, almonds, raisins, &c. More important still, there is no ot 6 ' 6
cultivating districts along tht littoral near Bunder Abbas.
As to the intermediate districts between Bunder Abbas and Jahrum, no oppor
tunity has been given to the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. to inspect them, but it is certain that they ar
very sparsely inhabited, cultivating only for their own immediate needs, and that the
inhabitants are not a trading population, with the possible exception of Lar.
Reasons why little surplus Grain can be relied on: Bunder Abbas Alignment
Lieutenant Wilson assumes 2 tons per family as the normal surplus of grain
available for export, and estimating 50,000 families on the alignment between Bunder
Abbas and Shiraz and the districts surrounding Shiraz, has calculated the normal
grain surplus at 100,000 tons. He further estimates the probable total export traffic
at not less than 200,000* tons after the first year or two.
After my own enquiries over the first 100 miles of that route, and relying on
several years’ acquaintance with the grain trade in the littoral, I think his estimate
unreasonably exaggerated and sanguine for the following reasons :—
(a.) He takes as a basis estimates in 1893 and 1907 (by a telegraph official)
of the yield round Shiraz, viz., 60,000 and 90,000 tons of grain produced by 20,000
families, to feed a population of 140,000 (say, 38,000 families'. He reckons 4 tons
of grain produced to each family, 2 tons of which is surplus available for sale.
Thus he reckons 40,000 tons available in Shiraz and 50 miles round.
The average consumption of wheat per family I believe to be rather less than
1 ton per annum ; in towns perhaps Ij- tons. This would mean a total of 30,000 tons
tor 28,000 families. Allowing at least 1 ton barley for feed of one or more ploughing
animals per family, this would add another 20,000 tons. Reserve and sowing seed
additional.
Thus 28,000 families would require between 50,000 to 60,000 tons for personal
use, and not more than 20,000 to 30,000 tons could be a probable surplus, even if other
premises are correct.
(h.) But after careful estimates on the spot, checked by the subsequent yield and
expoit from various small ports, I have found the total production of grain in the
Bushue littoral, an area of 180 miles by 20 to 30 miles broad, to have been about
60,000 tons, of which 30,000 should be available for export. This area is plain country,
a\ing far more extensive grain cultivation than the vallevs round Shiraz, while the
material prosperity of the peasantry is greater. I therefore doubt if peasantry in the
ai ea cited by Lieutenant W ilson produce more than 3 tons per family (if such a method
of computation be at all reliable), or 60,000 tons in all.
^ ar ^ a ^ ie ^ as ^ a ^ en are, I think, valleys and districts to the
noi^ o S nraz, whence animal transport to Shiraz would prove far too costly for
grain. r
+ (-) -r^-i 111 valle y s Shiraz to the neighbourhood of Jahrum, parallel
in aaa + rS ^ mdes of the route, showed an existing production of less than
’ . \°j S ’ n ^ ar y of which seemed required for district consumption.
16U e l na ^ t Wilson himself states that the Bunder Abbas line to Shiraz
passes iroug i cesert country, mostly waterless to within a few miles of Lar, for
frnncmr + ^ 611 J 0 o ie ^ us ]^ re littoral, which is open plain country rate of hire
hitivJ F T C fp 16 S ’i C i Ina ^ es car riage of grain for more than 30-35 miles pro
it wmikl t* 1 r f 3 va J e y s Fars, closed in by mountain ranges, it is unlikely tl
of thp ^ i° ri ^ ram t° the railway.from more than 20 miles away on either si
of the me or less if ra.lway freight is considered in addition. ^
Bimhirp ( ea + J 0 aai 1 rna | transport in the country along the Bunder Abbas a
unents would limit the quantity that could be brought in to the railway

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' [‎119v] (243/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x00002c> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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