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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [97v] (193/949)
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
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30
It will be seen from the abstract that the total estimated cost of the
Kondi-Karachi alignment is Us. 6,68,00,000.
The light branch to Tump, 130 miles long, would cost another 80
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
, or
a grand total of Rs. 7,48,00,000.
The line from Kondi to Pasni is estimated at Rs. 4,84,00 000, and the
, , bran oh to Tumn (40 miles) at 24
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
NB.—I have not been over the 40 miles from Oiano J. V. /
Turbat to Tump. more, or a grand total ot its. o,uo,uu,uuu.
A comparison with the cost of the existing frontier system may serve to
show what reliance can be placed on the above figures.
Take for instance, the estimate of the Karachi-Kondi line, Rs. 6,68,00,000
for 567 miles of railway, of this 567 miles, 316 are surface and 87 more are
easy line, so the estimated figures for them may be taken as correct. The
cost of the balance, 164 miles, of ghat line, is the important subject for enquiry.
As has already been stated, the cost of the Quetta Frontier System amounted
to Rs. 7,90,00,000. The mileage is 309 miles, of which I reckon 175 as ghat
and 134 as easy. The comparison is slightly complicated by a certain amount
of both ghat and easy line being double tracked, 4L miles and 22 miles,
respectively ; but a fair equivalent length of single line may be taken as loG
easy and 204 ghat.
Assuming that the 156 miles of easy line cost 1J
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
per mile, which
is not far from the mark, for the works are on rather a lavish scale, and most
of them were carried out under great pressure, the 204 miles of ghat line
ergo cost Rs. 5,95,00,000, or nearly Rs. 3,00,000 per mile.
It will be seen from the detailed statement of the Karachi-Kondi line
that the 403 miles of surface and easy line are estimated to cost—
Rs.
1 , 58 , 00 , 000 , 316 miles surface line.
78 , 30 , 000 , 87 „ easy surface line.
26 , 80 , 000 , special works.
Share of contingencies
Total
2 , 63 , 00,000 approximate.
13 , 00,000
2 , 76 , 00,000
Deducting this from the total Rs. 6,68,00,000, a balance remains of
Rs. 3,92,00,000, representing the estimated cost of 164 miles of ghat railway
= Rs. 2,40,000, per mile, as compared with 3
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
per mile actuals as above
for existing frontier system.
Twenty thousand
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
of this is accounted for by difference in permanent
way. The balance, Rs. 40,000 X 164 miles = Rs. 65,60,000, may be considered
the outside limit of error in the foregoing estimate of the Karachi-Kondi mile,
or a little less than 10% of the total Rs. 6,58,00,000. Following a similar line
of argument the limit of error of the Pasni line would be Rs. 50,80,000 (127
miles X 40,000), or 11^ of the total Rs. 4,84,00,000.
For my part I believe that the figures in the estimate are already suffi
ciently liberal. They have been prepared with considerable care, and with due
regard to the difficulties of the situation. But the uncertainties of work on a
Frontier Railway are great, and I know how liable one is to under-estimate
them. An estimate of a large project is always liable to suspicion unless
suppored by figures taken from actual experience. The preceding comparison
is therefore useful, as demonstrating to any one. familiar with the frontier
system that the estimates under notice are very fairly reliable.
In conclusion, I wish to make a few remarks on the subject of another
proposed Frontier Railway. Its alignment is to run from Quetta via Kalat
and Panjgur to Pasni. If my previous conclusions are correct, such a line has
no merits as a scheme for Frontier Defence. It throws an additional strain
on the carrying capacity of the Bolan-Hurnai system, and it goes to a bad port.
Without a link from Panjgur to Kondi it offers no support to the Nushki-
Seistan line. With it, it becomes the Kondi-Pasni Railway plus a branch,
300 miles long, to Quetta. A branch from Kolwa to Karachi instead would
be infinitely better.
W. A. Johns.
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’ [97v] (193/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x0000c2> [accessed 11 July 2026]
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- 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