‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎173r] (350/470)

309
(mN
Route No. 4 — concld.
From Isfahan to Behhahdn and Bandar-Bildm, fyc. —concld.
o
Distances in
miles.
Numbe
Stage
Time.
Names of towns, villages. &c.
Interme
diate.
Total.
Remarks.
19
P. M.
12-25
Bandab-i- Dilam ...
Long. 50° 9' E.
Lat. 30° N.
24
415
Passes over a sticky mud flat to Ban-
dar-i-Dilam, a small seaport village of
about 200 inhabitants.
and partially so in a south-eastern (Pei'sian Gulf Pilot).
Classifying the road with reference to its capabilities of being converted into a cart-
road, 12' to 15 unde in the hills and 25' to 30' tvide on the
DiUrand^sfahan-ShisTa^ 11 into good, fair and bad (see pages 169, 218 238) between
Isfahan and Ardal, 102 miles, 4.6 miles are classed as good,
41 miles as fair and 15 miles as bad; the cart-road assuming the rates already given and
allowing for an increase in its length of 18 miles, at Rs. 500 per mile, on account of
diminished gradient, would cost about Ps. 21,500. Judging from the account given of
the road beticeen Ardal and Shustar, 173 miles, it is considered that this section of it
could be converted into a cart-road at a cost of Its. 58,000 or at a total cost from
Isfahan to Shustar of Ps. 79,500, an average of Its. 265 per mile, allowing for an increase
in its length of 25 miles on account of diminished gradient.
Between Ardal and Bandar-Bildm, 313 miles, the road has been classed as 146 miles
good, 97 miles fair and 70 miles bad ; the cost to convert it into a cart-road as above is
Ps. 82,620, allowing for an increase in its length of 70 miles, at a cost of Ps. 500 per mile,
on account of diminished gradient, i.e., at a total cost from Isfahan to Bandar-Bildm
of about Ps. 104,000 or Ps. 215 per mile on the average.
For general remarks on the advisability, or present necessity of cart roads in Persia,
see page 172.
None of the estimates given include the cost of building caravanserais. It is assumed the
cost of ferries over rivers, where it is necessary to establish such, will be defrayed by tolls
levied on passengers, animals and goods, passed over by them.
By throwing wire ropes across the rivers most difficult to ford their-passage by rafts
would be a simple matter.
The construction of bridges with road bearers of trees resting on rough timber crib piers
and a flooring of fascines would cost next to nothing and yet be an inestimable boon to all
travellers. All the rivers and streams met with on the line just
described between Isfahan and Bandar-Dilam could be so spanned.
But no governor interests himself in the matter, custom has blunted
the people’s sense of the want of them, and moreover they are most ignorant in all such
matters. These remarks upon the ease with which rough bridges can be thrown over
Persian rivers is of very general application.
Method of bridging
sian rivers.
Per-