'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎25r] (54/300)

We start off in a direction almost due east from Akda, and the road is
nearly level, but somewhat stony. At *732, the village of Hujtatek is seen
three miles to the left, or north, and at -609 a line of brackish water Kanats is
passed. 1*500 brings us to a small dry torrent bed. Shamsabad we note at
1*885, and skirt it on the south. The road is very stony and rough at 2*62 and
continues so up to 7*03. The telegraph line crosses at 4'915 to the left side, or
south, and keeps on this side till 5*232, when it again crosses to the right and
lies 1J miles distant for the rest of the march. A bifurcation takes place at
5*12, tiie right, or south, track going direct to Maibut, while we follow the left
to Ardakan. An ab ambar of sweet water is passed on the right at 5*192.
Dagdagabad is seen lying 3 miles to the north at 7*03 and Deh Nar, one mile
off on the same side, at 8*257. A new ab ambar, almost completed, of burnt
brick, lies on the north, or left, at 8*68, and at 8*73 we pass Sarv, about 200
yards off on the same side, while the new village of Aliabad on the right, or
south, is passed at 8*850. The ro.id now turns to the south-east and enters
some low sand-hills. At 9*07, a stream of brackish water is crossed. The road
to Mehter branches off at 9*112, and Mehter itself is seen at 9*625, lying
50 yards to left, or north-east. At this point, 2 roads branch off, the right one
going to Chafreii, T| miles off, and the centre one to Seyud .Kur Adeen, half a
mile off, while our road runs due east again. Continuing among very low sand
hills, Mirza Amin is passed at 11*143, 400 yards to the north, and at 11*165 a
line of sweet water Kanats, which have steps leading down to the water, which
is slightly brackish, is reached. Shagoon, 600 yards to the left, and Mirza
Hakeem, on the road to the right, are respectively noted at 12*185 and 12*590.
A small dry torrent bed is crossed at 12*948, and Pa Gondeh is reached at 13*38.
The road is open to wheels, but is stony in places. Regular spans for 8 miles ;
practically no angles. Irregular spans 5 miles and few angles.
Pa Gondeh to Ardakan.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
7th October 1898
7
Ardakan, 3,435 feet...
11*34
123-77
An excellent road leaves Pa Gondeh in a south-easterly direction over a
gravelly sandy level stretch with nothing in view on the left, or north-east,
and the telegraph line a mile and a half off on the south-west, or right. The
hills are gradually approaching on both sides and somewhat reduce the width
of the valley. At 4*38, ten yards to our right, or south-west, we pass two
g *od ab atnbars containing sweet water. The suburb gardens of Ardakan
begin at 5*58 miles on the left, or north-east, some 4 miles off, with the village
of Paizabad. 6*180 brings us opposite to Mazreh Agha, also 4 miles off.
These gardens gradually approach the rv>ad towards Ardakan. A line of
brackish water Kanats is passed at 7*08, and at 7 804 the large village of
Turkabad is on the road to the left, or north-east. We now turn to the south,
and sand-drifts are noticed here. The going, too, is heavy. The gardens end
and recede on the right and give place to a sandy plain to 9*690, when the
cultivation of Ardakan begins, and the road again goes south-east. A fine
road with cultivation on either side is followed to 10*65, when the lanes begin.
At 9*967, the line crosses to the left. A fine ab ambar is passed at 10*138 on
the right, and the lanes end at 10*88 and give place to cultivation. We reach
the west town gate at 11 miles, and the telegraph line is again s< en on the
right. Skirting the town wall with its moat and passing the Telegraph Office
at 11*132 on our left, we reach the second gate at 11*292 and the third gate at
11*34. These respectively lead to Maibut and Yezd. The telegraph line is seen
going off to Yezd, bearing 156°. The road on this march is excellent through