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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [96r] (190/949)
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.
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27
(c) Katliag Pass, one party, one season.
(d) Nag Kalat alternative (?), one party, one season.
(e) Kathag to Panjgur, two parties, one season, or one party for two
seasons.
The first fifty miles of the route from Pasni are well suited for laying a
temporary line. By following the caravan road, and avoiding works as far as
possible, railhead should reach the south approach of the Gok Parosh Kotal in a
year from the commencement of construction. The permanent works could
he rapidly and economically built with the assistance of the temporary line.
By the end of another year, or year and-a-half, railhead should be at the foot
of the Kathag tunnel, with diversions at bridges and at uncompleted cuttings.
Through communication would probably be complete in or 6 years from
the start, on the presumption, of course, that work was carried on from both
ends.
Bor convenience of reference the estimates for both routes have been
Estimates. kept together.
The system on which they have been compiled is as follows :—
The railway has been classified under six heads—
lis.
( 1 ) Surface line, @ ...
50,000 per mile.
( 2 ) Easy line, @
90,000 „
( 3 ) Medium hilly line, @
1 , 25,000 „
( 4 ) Heavy ghat line, but without much
bridging
1 , 75,000 „
e.ff. y Nushki ghat.
( 5 ) Heavy ghat line with considerable bridging
2 , 25,000 „
e.g,, Kaisar gorge on
Nushki line.
(6) Very expensive gorge line
3 , 00,000 „
All important individual works, such as
large bridges
and long tunnels,
have been estimated for at a foot run rate, and added separately.
The foregoing classification has been arrived at by abstracting and
analysing the cost under each head of work of portions of lines with which I
am familiar, and for which detailed estimates are available. The alignment is
then examined in detail, and each length is entered in its appropriate class.
The figures provide for a 621b rail, wooden sleepers, a small quantity of
rolling-stock, stations, &c., on a modest scale. All ghat sections of the line to
be up to 1st class standard.
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’ [96r] (190/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000bf> [accessed 28 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