‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎154v] (307/949)

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The Bnssian lines may be divided into two heads-
A. Lines from Russian territory to Tehran.
B. Lines from Tehran to the sea.
A. Lines from Russian territory to Tehran may again be sub-divided into two main
headings:—
(1) Those approaching Tehran via Tabriz.
( 2 ) A line approaching via the southern shore of the Caspian and Resht.
Lines approaching Tehran via Tabriz : there are four alternatives to Tabriz
(1) From Kivrag or Shah Takht via Khoi (Dilman to Tabriz, length 202 miles, esti
mated cost £1,800,000.
( 2 ) From Kivrag or Shah Takht via Marand to Tabriz, length 160 miles, estimated
cost £ 2 , 200 , 000 .
(3) From Julfa via Marand to Tabriz, length 81 miles, estimated cost £861,000.
(4) From Evlak on the Trans-Caucasian via Aslanduz and Abar to Tabriz, distance
282 miles, estimated cost £4,600,000.
From Tabriz to Tehran, distance 342 miles, estimated cost £3,222,000.
The line to Tehran from Allat south of Baku via Saliami, Lenkoran, Resht and Kasvin,
distance 450 miles, estimated cost £3,740,000.
B. Lines from Tehran to the sea *. here again several lines have been surveyed and are
reported on:—
1. Tehran to Bushire via Kum, Isfahan, Bundamir River, Shiraz, Kara Agach or Mand
River to Khor Ziarat, thence along the coast to Bushire. From Kum there are alternatives
via Gulpaigan or via Kashan. Total distance 994 miles, estimated cost £10,550,000.
2 . Tehran to Bunder Abbas as above to Aliabad (south-west of Jahrum), thence via Lar
to Bunder Abbas, total distance 1,020 miles, estimated cost £10,850,000.
3. Tehran to Chahbar via Kum, Kashan, Nain, Yezd, Kerman, Bam, Regan, Bampur, and
Geh to Chahbar, total distance 1,090 miles, estimated cost £11,200,000.
Other projected Russian lines are from Askabad via Kuchan to Meshed, from Doshak
on the Trans-Caspian to Meshed, from Pul-i-Khatun just inside the Reman frontier to Nasra-
tabad and thence to Chahbar via Sarbad and Bampur.
The railway leconnaissance from Allat to Chahbar Bay was evidently made by a compe
tent and skilled Railway Location Engineer and probably his report may l e t^ken as proof
positive of its being a feasible route, much of it with grades and curves not heavier than those
used on the plains of India and none greater than those of our ghat lines to Quetta and
Chaman, which the heavier work on the Allat-Chahbar line mu^t most resemble.
As to the time necessary to construct the Allat-Cbahbar Railway, it is improbable that it
could reach the coast under five, and more probably six years; even were it pushed on
most expeditiously, for, it must be remembered the line can only be carried forward from the
northern end and all materials must come from Russia, The cost of constructing the railway
appears considerably underestimated, at £8,500 per verst, which amounts to Rs. 1,91,250 per
mile, for on the whole Bolan and Sind-Peshin system we have spent an average of Rs. 2,66 000
per mile. '
J, Wolfe Murray,—21-1-1904.
It would, I think, be worth while to show the railway under construction to Nushki and
the routes surveyed by Mr. Johns to Seistan and to the sea at Pasni or Karachi with an abstract
of the cost of these and of the ruling gradients and curves. We can perhaps do this here, if
not, it should go to Public Works Department, but please treat as urgent.
L. W. Dane,—21-1-1904.
M e have no mapper in this office, and I am afraid I cannot possibly undertake it myself.
The case may be sent (by Secretary^ orders) direct to Mr. Hodson, by name. We should
be glad to have the file back on Saturday.
Public Works Department.
E. H. S. Clarke,—21-1-1904.
The Quetta-Nushki Kailway under construction has been put on the map in dotted Had
line*. The survey made by Mr. Johns beyond Nusbki to Seistan, Robat, and Pasni have been
■ hown in dotted blue lines, except where they run into lines already marked in full blue lines.
A statement is also put up showing the approximate cost and ruling grade and curvature of
the various route*.
F. D. Couchman,—22-1-1904.
E. I. Shadbolt,-22-1-1904.