Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎90r] (179/252)

to make purchases of China teas and English manufactured goods to the value
of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000. He said that it was his wish to return to Meshed
by the route he came, but he hinted that he might be compelled, perforce, to
forward his China teas to Meshed via Bundar Abbas. Ghulam Muhammad
Hussain’s requests coincide so closely with the requests made by every clear
headed trader 1 have met, who is interested in the well being of the Nushki-
Sistan trade route, that they are worthy of attentive consideration. I under
stand that the question of the refund of Customs duties on goods re-exported
to Persia, on which Ghulam Muhammad Hussain laid so much stress, has
been referred to the Government of India for their consideration. I trust that
the decision arrived at may be a favourable one.
4. Mr. Parveez paid me another visit a few' days ago. He said that if
Government w’ould spend a small sum*
on a road between Nushki and Quetta, he
• Rs. 60,000 was the actual sum he specified.
was prepared to inaugurate a bi-weekly system of freight cars driven by steam
power. At first I was inclined to look on the scheme wuth diffidence, but
since I have had time to consider the proposal in its various bearings, the
decision, I have come to, is that not only is the scheme feasible, but that^ there
are many points in its favour to recommend it. To refer to some:—There
appears to be a general consensus of opinion that the improvement of the
facilities for the carriage of goods between Quetta and Nushki is a matter wffiich
admits of no delay whatever. Should the Government of India decide to build
a railway to Nushki, the construction cannot be started fer six months to
come and the railway itself cannot be opened to traffic for from eighteen months
to two years from now. Money spent on improving the road would not only
be wasted, but would be money well expended, for our experience in Northern
India proves how essential it is to supplement railway communication by road
communication. Again, should the Quetta-Nushki railway be extended west
ward, it is unlikely that such an extension would be made for a long time to
come; the freight cars would therefore be available, when the railway to Nushki
is opened, to run from Nushki to Sistan which is Mr. Parveez’s intention
and which, moreover, is quite feasible, as the local conditions are favourable
throughout. Even should the arguments I adduce be ruled weak, and person
ally 1 cannot see how exception can be taken to them, I would submit that
a capitalist, who is willing to sink a large sum of money in an enterprise which
has for its immediate objective the cheapening of the carriage of goods between
Quetta, Nushki and Sistan—a matter on which the future development of the
trade route directly hinges, should receive generous consideration and encourage
ment from the Government of India.
3
C- Pie*s, Siml.a—No, 1135 F. D.—28-11-1901.— 25 -