'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎20r] (44/300)

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1. Kasuan to Ispahan (via Natenz and Moochekhor) 104 miles.
Both from what I saw of the He of the country and from the account of
it given to me by Captain Sykes, who travelled from Kashan to Kulipa md
Natenz, this route cannot offer the same facilities as the one proposed by me
for the following reasons
(1) Kashan- would be on the trunk of the Y, where the line to Ispahan
V and that to Yezd bifurcates, and would thus become a very im
portant station, which would appear undesirable, owing to its
notoriously hot and unhealthy climate.
(2) The stage from Ispahan to Tarek is, I am informed, something
between 32 and 36 miles, without water or villages en route.
(3) The country between Kashan and Tarek, and especially between
Natenz and Tarek, hugs the Kohrud range, and is much cut up
by water-courses.
2. Kashan to Ispahan (via Kohrud) 96 miles.
As you have already reported so strongly against the Kohrud P^ s s» and
have recommended thkt the present line should be dismantled and taken to
Ispahan by another route, it would appear that any further remarks by me
on this point would be superfluous. However, in addition to the objections to
the Kohrud pass itself, I would mention that—
(1) The pass at Lagareh, 8,400 feet between Ispahan and Nain, would
probably have to be surmounted. 2
(2) Advantage would not be taken of the main caravan and Chappar
road from Kashan to Naiu.
3. Kashan to Ispahan (via Nain) 220J miles.
The third and only other practicable scheme of dismantling the Kohrud
line and of bringing it, as well as the new line as far as Nain, and constructing
the branch line into Ispahan from Nain would also appear to be unadvisable,
owing to the considerably greater length of line involved, and the greater
altitude of the Lagareh pass.