'Report on the Preliminary Survey of The Route for The Central Persia Telegraph Line from Quetta to Bam and Pahra' [‎20v] (45/162)

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Persian Gcvernment with the assistance of the Indo-European Telegraph Depart
ment. The construction of this Section would only have to.be considered in the
event of the route Quetta to Ladis being decided on, and then only if it was
decided not to take a direct route to Bam. The difficulties op this Section
appear to be less than mother parts of the country, and, if a line is required
from Ladis to Pahra, there is nothing to prevent it being constructed.
4. As regards the route west of Koh-i*Malik Seah to Bam, it is evident from
all accounts that this would be the most unsuitable of any of the proposed routes
for Telegraphic connection between India and Persia.
5. Mr. Armstrong’s report may be briefly summed up as follows :—
There is no insuperable difficulty in constructing and maintaining a
Telegraph line from Quetta to Ladis, or to Koh-i-Malik Seah, or
to Pahra, but, from a Telegraph point of view, either of the above
routes appear to be far less desirable than that from Karachi to
Kashan, via Pahra, and Kerman.
The principal reasons advanced against adopting a northern route from
Quetta are, (a) the exceptional difficulty of constructing, and
maintaining a line through the large extent of desert country
that would be met with, and {b) the possibility of the new Trade
route being abandoned, when the maintenance of the line for
International purposes would become almost impossible.
6. I may say I agree with the above conclusions. I understand,
moreover, that the desire of His Majesty the Shah of Persia is, that the
portion of the line which is to be constructed through Persian territory
should pass, wherever possible, through populous districts, and although,
by selecting the southern route from Karachi through Pahra, a longer
Section of Persian line would be necessitated than by the Northern route, yet
it would pass through a comparatively populated, instead of an uninhabited,
country. There may, however, be strong political reasons for selecting one of
the Northern routes. It is for the Government of India to judge whether they
are sufficient to counterbalance Telegraph considerations. If it is considered,
in spite of the disadvantages stated, that it is necessary to erect the line from
Quetta by a Northern route, I would recommend the route to Ladis, and thence
by a direct route to Bam.
7. In conclusion, I would invite the notice of Government to the very inter
esting nature of the Report MT. Armstrong has submitted, and to the careful
manner in which it has been prepared. I would further invite the special notice
to the narrative of his journey contained in Appendix III, and to the tact and
judgment displayed by him while travelling in an unsettled country with a very
small escort, and occasionally in exceptionally difficult circumstances. I would
also bring to the notice of Government the valuable services of Sub-Inspector
Ainuddin Khan, who has twice accompanied Mr. Armstrong on his travels west
from Quetta, and of whom he has written so highly. On such occasions, the
services of a man with the qualifications possessed by Sub-Inspector Ainuddin
Khan are invaluable, and it is my intention in a special communication to bring
his services, past and present, to the notice of Government.
I have the honour to k e,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Director General of Telegraphs,