![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎92r] (182/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0185.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎92r] (182/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [92r] (182/949)
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.
!
A
%
/
Engine-changing station.
The following arrangements for engine-
changing stations are suggested—
5 }
Karachi
Las Bela j ...
Hor or Madak Kalat
Panjgur ...^ / ^
Palantak (banking only) ... ^
Mashkhel Hamun (Ladgasht) J
Kondi (running shed only)
or
B
}
Karachi *1 ...
Las Bela j ... *)
Madak Kalat /
Palantak
Kondi
}
}
140 miles, (includes run
on N.-W.
By. main
line).
135
100
120
72
{
140
140
140
147
Arrangement A would, to a certain extent, obviate the difficulty arising from
the badness and shortness of water at Kondi. Krom my present knowledge of
the country it does not appear at all easy to devise a satisfactory arrangement
of changing stations between Kondi and Panjgur. With a good water-supply
at the former, arrangement B would do very Tvell, though the runs are long.
On the other hand, it would be a pity to cut out Panjgur, which is an admirable
situation from its climate and surroundings for a railway colony, while
Palantak and Mashkhel are quite the reverse.
Traffic prospects. —As previously remarked, a railway to Las Bela would
probably pay working expenses. It would certainly open up a large tract of
country now without the advantage of railway communication.
A small quantity of ghi, wool, and grain and a few passengers might be
expected from the villages in Jhau.
Kolwa has large possibilities. At present its produce is all consumed
locally and in Kech and Panjgur; harvesters from the two latter places
returning home with their wages in grain.
From Panjgur an export of dates, ghi, and wool would arise, and an import
of grain in exchange (vide preceding estimate of date crop).
The same remark, but in a lesser degree, applies to Ladgasht.
The bulk of the local traffic, however, would come in from the Kech
valley over the light branch suggested. Under present conditions that cannot
be estimated at more than four or five wagons daily, but with the stimulus of
a railway a large increase might be confidently anticipated.
Without this branch the distance from Turbat to Madak Kalat, 90 miles,
is too great for the traffic to be tapped by camel carriage, more particularly
as the ports of Pasni and Gwadur are much closer. With regard to the through
traffic from Seistan, such traffic as was forthcoming would probably desert the
Quetta route, and go straight to the port.
Mineral resources. —I have neither seen nor heard of any mineral resources
in Western Baluchistan. The geological formation is unfavourable, I think,
but I have no knowledge of mineralogy.
Curvature and gradients. —In the Ghat sections of the line curves of
600 feet or 700 feet would be necessary. The question of probable ruling
gradients has already been fully discussed in the detailed description of the
alignment. The probable grade at each Kotal is shown on the section.
Materials for construction. —Beference has already been made to the
possibility of adopting American steel trestles as a substitute for masonry
piers, with a view to obviate the water difficulty which, in many places, will
be acute. Bricks could be burnt with dust coal or firewood in Bela and Jhau.
A
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [92r] (182/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000b7> [accessed 12 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000b7
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000b7">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎92r] (182/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000b7"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0185.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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