‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎185v] (369/949)

all the lines will be placed in almost indentical conditions in regard to materials
and workmen, as they pass through a country with a uniform cultivation, in
almost similar climatic and topographical conditions. There are no materials
on the spot with the exception of earth, stone, and sand. Everything else will
have to be brought from Russia.
Limestone, alabaster, and clay are to be had, but the absence of fuel will
greatly increase the cost of lime, gypsum, and brick.
The means of conveyance are only pack animals, and this in insufficient
quantity as the inhabitants are poor only keep asses, mules, and horses for
their own limited needs. There are nowhere any carriage roads, although the
roads in many places are suitable for conveyance by Arbas and carts.
In northern and central Persia unskilled masons are to be had.
In the southern part, particularly along the line to Chahbar, workmen
will have to be brought from northern Persia. Feeding the workmen will be a
serious question, as along the line to Yezd as far as the Bay of Chahbar the
corn for the local population is provided from western Persia.
The soil is everywhere very heavy, mixed with pebble and many stony soils.
The formations are mainly slaty.
Over the whole extent there is very little water. There are very few large
rivers, and the small streams periodically dry up. "Water can only be reckoned
on from canals and karezes, underground irrigation canals.
There are few artificial works with the exception of those serving for the
passage of irrigation canals. There are seven large rivers in the direction of
Bunder Bushire, eight in that of Bunder Abbas, and four in that of Chahbar.
Engineering works will be expensive, in consequence of the great cost of con
veyance of cement and the lack of water.
To determine the cost we divide the lines into sections with small and
large works :—
1 . The line Tehran-Isphan-Shiraz-Bunder Bushire from Shiraz by the
valley of the Kara Agach Total extent 1,490 versts, of which 740 are with
small works and 750 with large works.
2 . Line Tehran-Ispahan-Shiraz-Bunder Abbas. Total extent 1,530 versts,
of which 740 are with small works and 790 with large works.
3 . Line Tehran-Kashan-Yezd-Kirman-Chahbar. Total extent 1,635 versts,
of which 1,000 versts with small works and 635 with large.
Thus is assumed on an average —
1. In regard to expropriation, counting 8 desiatines per verst and 200
roubles per desiatine, 1,680 roubles.
2 . Regarding the construction of tbe permenant way, reckoning 1,200
cubic sagenes on easy sections, and 300 cubic sagenes on mountainous sections
per verst, and assuming cost of 1 cubic sagene of small works at 4 roubles, and
Wgein various soils at 750 , we shall obtain the cost of 1 verst, adding 15 per
cent, for construction of earth-works, excepting the permanent way—
(a) For tbe line from Tehran to Bunder Bushire—
740 x 1,200 X 4 + 7,550 x 3,000 x 7'50
1,490 '
And adding 15 per cent, we shall have . . .
In round numbers ....
(J) For the line from Tehran to Bunder Abbas—
740 x l,20o x 4+790 x 3,000 x 7‘50
1,530
And adding 15 per cent, we shall have .
In round numbers ....
(r) For the line from Tehran to Chflhbar—
1,000 x l,2u0 x 4 + 635 x 3,000 x 7*50 _
1,635
And adding 1 5 per cent, we shall have .
In round numbers ....
Roubles.
. 13,710
. 15,766
. 15,800
. 13,939
. 15,979
. 16,000
. 11,675
. 13,425
.- 13.500