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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [88v] (175/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
12
in aligning it, a good shaft might he got near its centre, dividing it into two f-
mile tunnels. The rock, hard Khojak shale, is admirably adapted for tunnelling.
A good spring exists on the north approach, and one or two small ones in the
nulla on the south, so there will be no want of water. On the contrary,
springs will probably be tapped in driving the heading.
The descent from the summit tunnel to the Kolwa plain is similar in
character to the ascent, only more costly. The cheapest route is to adhere to
the slope of the nulla, bridging the stream where necessary. The first three
miles will be exceedingly heavy, as the banks are high and steep. Fortunately,
the nulla is fairly straight.
An alternative method of negotiating this pass has been suggested by my
surveyor. It is to climb as high as possible on the north side, say, to a point
150 feet higher than I propose, and then cross the Kotal with two short tunnels.
The descent is accomplished in a similar manner by a series of loops with short
tunnels, where necessary, through the ridges. This alternative is certainly worth
a trial. I rejected it at first sight on account of a lofty viaduct which would
be required at the south tunnel mouth over the ravine below it: for the river
at the tunnel entrance forks in both directions, and a viaduct is unavoidable.
It is not likely that this alternative will result in any economy in construc
tion, for the open patches between the ridges are indented with deep nullas,
so the bridging and earthwork will be exceedingly heavy; but the great advan
tage of this method, if it is feasible, is that it avoids that most objectionable
feature in an alignment, a tedious un-get-at-able work in the centre of a long
railway. For it will be easily understood that a tunnel of the length I pro
pose, on which only a limited number of men can be employed, may bar the
opening of through communications for a couple of years after the line on
each side is complete. So, if two short tunnels are obtainable instead of one
long one, they are much to be preferred, even at a slight increase of cost. Other
wise, the heading of the long tunnel should be started by hand labour as an
isolated work in advance, as soon as construction is begun at the termini. By
these means the heading will probably be through by the time the rails on
either side reach the tunnel.
At the 274th mile, the works begin to get lighter. Between the 275th and
276th miles the river makes a sharp “ U ” bend, and, in order to avoid a double
crossing, it might be diverted through a tunnel {vide sketch)
From the 277th mile the line need not follow the caravan road (along
which the section was taken in the first instance), but had better continue to
descend the river almost to its debouchement on the plain {vide plan).
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [88v] (175/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000b0> [accessed 29 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence