‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎92v] (183/949)

Some fair stone will be obtainable in many localities ; but the difficulty
of obtaining stone masons in sufficient numbers will make that class of work
impossible on a large scale, except at the Karachi end, where there should be no
trouble in getting plenty of Cutchi masons. Concrete blocks and concrete will
be found the best building material over the greater part of the line. Ballast
is to be had everywhere. Sand or Bajri can generally be obtained by
screening shingle. In tunnels where bricks are not at hand, I would suggest a
skin of stone backed with concrete rammed in situ.
Arrangements for survey and construction. —The survey would require
seven parties, five of which would be engaged for two seasons— vide attached
table. This is a large staff, but the country is so inaccessible that a lot of
time would be lost in getting on to the ground.
Table of disposal of survey staff.
fa) Karachi—Sir Kaur
(b) Sir Kaur ghat
(e) Sir Kaur ghat—Nal River
(Jhau) Jhauto Kolwa j
(d) Kolwa to Panjgur
(e) Panjgur to Palantak glacis ...
(f) Palantak glacis to Kondi
One party. One season ... 126 to 130 miles.
Do. Two seasons perhaps 10 miles.
Do. Two seasons ... 90
Two parties Do. ... 121
One party Do. ... 60
Do. One season ... 137
Construction would be put in hand from both ends, and rails would be laid
as rapidly as possible to Bela and Palantak where the serious work begins.
In advance of each railhead a section of 60 miles would always be
under construction. Much more could not be attempted owing to difficulties
of labour, supplies, and the carriage of cement. A single, isolated work such
as the heading of a long tunnel might, of course, be put in hand regardless of
its distance from the base of supplies at railhead, but there would be no advan
tage in spreading operations over a wider area than that mentioned. Labour
would only be dissipated and portions in advance completed, while those behind
were hung up for want of coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. .
Labour would come from Karachi, Afghanistan, and the Punjab. In order
to attract it in sufficient numbers, rates should be fixed rather high, more
especially as food-stuffs will be dear, having to be imported from a distance,
and then carried from railhead on camels.
Time taken in construction. —In two respects both the Kondi-Karacbi and
Kondi-Pasni lines compare unfavourably with the Nushki-Seistan : in carrying
capacity, and in time taken in construction.
With regard to the latter point, it is clear that the extension from Nushki
can be put in hand and completed at the first threatening of danger; it is a
card that can be laid on the table at any moment; but the construction of the
link to the coast cannot be rushed. The combined Sind-Pishin and old
Bolan railways took 8 years to reach Chaman. Another four years elapsed
before the completion of the Mushkaf-Bolan chord. The total expenditure on
the system, as it now stands, was 8 crores, the mileage 309 miles, and construction
went on almost continuously for the whole period of 12 years. It would he
sanguine, therefore, to expect that the project under notice could reach the
stage of through communications in less than 8 years. It involves an expendi
ture almost equal to that of the Quetta-Chaman system, its total length is
much greater, and its aggregate mileage in mountainous and hilly country not
much less, though there are no individual works on it of the same magnitude
as the Chappar rift, the Khojak tunnel, and the Bolan Pass.
The staff employed on survey and construction should receive more liberal
treatment than the ordinary frontier allowances, to compensate them for the
exceptional dreariness of their surroundings, their isolation from civilisation,
and the enhanced cost of servants, provisions, &c. Prom personal experience
I can testify that the Sind-Pishin and Mushkaf-Bolan were quite pleasant
places to serve in when compared with the country between Kondi and the
coast.