Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎33v] (66/252)

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REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
Freight by this route is generally lower in winter, as camel caravans avoid
it in the heat of the summer.
The route from Batoum via Tiflis, Erivan, and Julfa is available only for
Russian imports. From Batoum there is now communication by rail through
Tiflis to Erivan.
The general railway system of Russia is also connected with Tiflis and
Erivan by the Bakou*Petrovsk line. From Erivan the railway will be carried
within two years to Nakhichevan. At present merchandise for Persia is carried
by wagon or camel transport to Nakhichevan over a good macadam road, and
thence to Julfa by partially metalled road. From Julfa to Tabriz transport is
by camel or mule caravan.
The route from Astara vid Ardebil is also employed for Russian imports to
Tabriz and other parts of Azerbaijan.
Goods are shipped from Baku or the Volga and Astrakhan to Astara. The
caravan track from Astara to Ardebil is said to be the worst in Persia, and only
trained horses are used for transport on it. A Persian company has obtained a
concession for a road, and is reported to have completed five farsakhs, or one-half
of the distance. The Russians are also building a road inland from Astara on
their side of the frontier, but it has been carried only two or three miles to Nemin
on the frontier.
From Ardebil to Tabriz there is a good caravan track, and transport is by
camels and mules.
The route from Tabriz to Teheran is of minor importance to Russian trade,
as Kazvin, Zanjan, and Teheran can be reached more readily from Resht. All
British and continental goods from Trebizond for the Teheran and other Persian
markets pass over this road by camel or mule caravan,
Russia has obtained a concession for a road from the Russian frontier
through Tabriz to Kazvin, and engineers have been surveying for some time
past. It was reported that the engineers recommend that the road should
touch the Aras (Araxes) some miles above Julfa, in order to avoid the difficult
defile of the Darreh-Diz.
Freight from Moscow' vid Poti to Tabriz comes to about Rbls. 1*70 per
poud, and vid Astara to about Rbls. 1-50 per poud. As the cost from Erivan to
Tabriz is at present, say, 50 copecks per poud, improved rail and road trans
port to Tabriz cannot greatly improve the Russian position in that market.
Any economy or quickening of transport between Tabriz and Teheran will
benefit the British and Continental imports vid Tabriz for other Persian
markets.
Caspian Ports (Enzeli, Lengerood, Meshedi-sar, and Bunder Gez).
The Customs Returns for 1902-03 give the value of imports as
and of exports as ^1,156,730.
The Caucas and Mercury Steam Navigation Company run a passenger
service and carry the mails from Baku to Astara and Enzeli, bi-weekly in
summer and weekly in winter. . Numerous cargo boats from Baku and Astrakhan
also touch at Astara and Enzeli. One steamer is run by Persian owners, and
this boat crosses the bar at Enzeli and * discharges and takes in cargo at the
Customs wharf. The other steamers all anchor outside the bar and discharge to
and load from boats. Cargo by the Caucas and Mercury line is landed at their
own wharf and warehouses where the merchadise is inspected by the Customs
officers some time after landing.
From Enzeli to Pir-i-Bazaar merchandise is conveyed by boats and is
there transferred to two-wheeled carts for transport to Resht.
The Caucas and Mercury Company also run a weekly service from Baku
vid Krasnavodsk to Bunder Gez and Meshedi-sar.
Trade Usages, Credits, &c.
The pro\inces of Mazanderan and Ghilan are prospering
great increase in rice and silk production.
on account of the