‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎162v] (323/949)

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cultivated Persia, it forms a commercial aorta from which branches into all the productive
parts would eventually pulsate ” “ Such would be westwards from Burujird to
Kermanshah, from Sultanabad to Ramadan, and eastwards from Sultanabad vta Gulpai^an
to Isfahan. The natural configuration and the lie of the area to be reached is in haimony
with our strategical demands, for it would be to our interest to have all these branches
running as much as possible parallel to our base line, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
“An Isfahan extension gradually extended further to Yezd, then south-eastwards to
Saidabad, thence to Bampur, would reach Nushki, well out of Russia s way, without offence
to her Central Asian position”.
10. Author. —Sir F. Goldsmid—(ctitf “Persia”, Vol. I, page 636, by Hon'ble G.
Curzon, M. P ), 1890—
Proposed two lines “ in either case starting from Baghdad, in connection with a
Euphrates or Tigris Valley Railway, the line recommended would pass in an easterly direction
through Persian^territory avoiding the Gulf, by Shushter and Ram Hormuz, or possibly by
Hawizeh and Ahwaz to Behbehan, whence an existing caravan route would be followed to
Shiraz. From Shiraz two lines of communication are available to the sea; a northerly line
by Fasa, Darab, and Forg, or a more southerly line by Lar, both debouching upon Bunder
Abbas, thence the railway would be continued along the Mekran coast to Karachi ’.
11. Author. —Lieutenant H. B. Vaughan, in his “Journey through Persia”, 1890—
Reported that a line could be built without much difficulty from Yezd to Niriz The
elevations are great, but the gradients are very easy, and the greater part of the line would run
over a level plain. Between Niriz and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the south, the direct route would
probably be Darab, Lar, Mughu Bay.
On the other hand, the best direction to follow from Niriz, would be a line running
south-east towards Bunder Abbas. Such a line would run in conformation with the general
line of the mountains.
12. Author. —Hon'ble G. Curzon, M.P., in his “ Persia,” Vol. 1,1892—
(a) The connection of the Seistan Railway with Kerman and Yezd, eventually to “ be
succeeded by branches from the Indian Ocean or Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the starting points of which
might be Pasni, Gwadur, or Chahbar; or, in deference to the existing trade routes, Bunder
Abbas. The advantage to British trade of such an opening up of South-East Persia, involving,
as it would, more intimate communication with the Central and North-Fast Provinces,
would be as great as would the gain to Persia resulting from the new and more expeditious
outlet for her exports in opium, cotton, and dried fruits ”.
(b) Mohammerah or Shuhster northwards “ through the Lur country to Khorremabad
and Burujird”.
(e) “If ever a railroad is built in a transverse direction across the breadth of Persia”
“ The true line would seem to be one that shall unite the great agricultural, manu
facturing, and commercial centres of Persia, and shall be constructed with reference to Persian
as well as to British requirements. Such a line is more likely to be found along the track
Baghdad, Kermanshah, Burujird, Isfahan, Yezd, Kerman Connection between
Kerman and Seistan, and with points on the coast is mentioned under (a) ”.
13. Author. —Colonel Mark Bell {vide “ Note on the Question of developing Com
munications with Persia”, Intelligence Branch, 1892) —
“ A line of railway from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to Tehran should doubtless approximately
follow the Shushter-Burujird-Kum route, for the country is more favourable to railway
construction on this line than on any other confined to Persian territory ”.
Colonel Bell points to the important part that the area Kermanshah-Sahna-Burujird-
Hamadan is capable of playing in the defence of Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and how very
necessary it is that ready access should be given to it by the Karun River to Shushter, and
thence by rail or road to Burujird and Kermanshah. The country enclosed within the
semicircle Sahna, Ramadan, and Burujird is of such strategical importance that it “ not
only protects the eastern outlets of all the passes across the Kurdistan Hills to Van, but
also protects the whole of South-West Persia from Isfahan to the Gulf, and prevents any
hostile advance across the Lur, Bakhtiari, and Kashgai Hills”.
14*. Author. —Mr. Preece, Consul at Isfahan, 1895—
Reported that there was nothing, as far as he could judge, to prevent a railway being
made from Shushter to Khorremabad, the country being in no way difficult.
Mr. Preece advocated the construction of a light electric railway from Mohammerah to
Khorremabad and Burujird, the abundant water-supply along the route facilitating such a
scheme. Such a railway, in his opinion, would be the only one likely to pay until the
country is more fully developed.
15. Military Report on Persian Seistan, 1902—
Three possible routes for carrying on the Nushki line into Persia are mentioned :—
(a) From Nushki to some point on the Helmand, thence down the river into Seistan.
[fi) Via the trade route.
(c) Via the Rukshan valley to Panjgur, thence north via Serhad into Seistan.