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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎123r] (250/258)

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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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47
Previous Objections to Bushire Alignment.
Official discouragement of a Bushire-Shiraz railway and support of the Bunder
Abbas connection may conceivably have been based by the Government of India on
two assumptions commonly held :—
(1.) That the physical geography of the country between Bushire and Shiraz
rendered railway-making an impracticable, or at any rate financially inadmissible,
project.
(2.) I hat the port of Bushire was incapable of improvement to make it suitable as
a railway terminus.
Survey of Bushire Harbour needed.
As regards (2) it is respectfully _ submitted that the question of the specific
amelioration of the roadsteads of Bushire and Bunder Abbas has never been taken up,
and it is probable that very considerable improvement of the anchorage and facilities
for ships could be effected. I am also convinced that the dredging of channels from
and into.the anchorages, and a steam lighterage company properly equipped would
effect a vast difference to the port as it is, and enable it to cope with a largely increased
traffic.
In any case it is unjustifiable to condemn permanently the development of trade in
the hinterland of Bushire (with all irs British traditions) by reason of an opinion widely
held by passing travellers as to the difficulties of the anchorage, and a technical report
on the possibilities of improvement of the various Gulf harbours is essential before the
scheme of railway exploitation is finally settled. Such a report would be of immediate
practical value. .
Practicability of Bushire Alignment.
1. The survey of Lieutenant Wilson shows that by making a considerable detour
to the south-east, railroad construction linking Bushire with Shiraz via Jahrum would
be no more difficult than most similar undertakings in Persia, though the Bunder Abbas-
Jahrum alignment is far easier.
His estimates of the length and cost of construction of such railways are :—■
Bushire-.Tahi um-Shiraz, 354 miles
Bunder Abbas-Jahrum-Shiraz, 343 miles
£
1.655.000
1.701.000
Assuming the lines to be constructed according to these surveys, with practically
similar mileage and therefore presumably freight charges also, it is extremely unlikely
that any of the present import trade via Bushire would be diverted to Bundei Abbas,
nor that part of the export trade from Shiraz and north of it. Bushire has the
advantage of a trading connection which is not possessed by the other port. Shippmo
freights from Europe would not differentiate perceptibly between the two ports ; and
only in port dues, lighterage, &c., might Bunder Abbas be at an advantage. e 11168
would be competitive over their greater distance, and commercially that from Bum ei
Abbas is more likely to lose. . ,
But now that the former belief has been refuted, and it is established that at least
one possible railway alignment from Bushire does exist, f^ 1616 801116 ^
attempting to find a shorter and more direct route between Bushire and Shiraz. t
must be admitted that all possible routes have not been surveyed, and a great deal
still remains to be done. Lieutenant Wilson mentions the possibility of an alignment
along the Shahpur River, which could not greatly exceed 200 miles in length and from
personal observation I can say that at least 80 mi es o its eng i inverse ev P
My own journey vi& Firuzabadled me to think that railway construction should oe easy
for a large part of the distance between Bushire and Firuzabad
It cannot be necessary to traverse over 350 miles to cover the distance Ween the
coast and Shiraz, when caravan traffic for a century and ; ;, ha11 '^b ^i mr^
following routes only 180 to 200 miles in length Mter a!!, cheapness of prima^
construction at the price of long detours does not always J towards
results, and the cost incurred in making the detour would go a long way towards
payment of dearer construction over a shorter route. ^ ^ ^ March, 1911,1
In my memorandum with despatch iNo. , L ’ , 4- 0
gave details tending to show that in recent years of d ' S ”f. r . bXc anl
80,000Z. and more were being paid annually in tiansp ^
[2619 i— 1 ]

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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' [‎123r] (250/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x000033> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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