‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎189r] (376/949)

y
25
302 versts, and costing 58,902 roubles per verst, as the cheapest route, the
easiest in technical respects, with falls not exceeding 015 and traversing the
most thickly populated and fertile localities of Azerbaijan.
The way from Kivrag to Maraud, 230 versts in extent, although 70 versts
shorter, costs 87,947 roubles per verst, and is consequently 2 , 439,432 roubles
dearer than the direction to Kind, and traverses a less cultivated and populous
region.
The line from the custom-house of Julfa required already in the first 56
versts the application of falls of *028 which it proved impossible to reduce,
and in its further direction coincided with that of the line Kivrag-Marand ;
wherefore it was not further elaborated.
The direction from Evlakh, the Aslanduz post near Gebrail, and further
to Agar and Tabreez presents within Russian territory for a distance, of 153
versts an easy and cheap line; but further on within the limits of Persia the
line, passing along the valley of the Karasu and intersecting mountain ridges,
presents such difficulties that its cost with a total extent of 423 versts was found
to be 40 , 592,964 roubles, or 95,984 roubles per verst of way.
In Russia the line traverses the desert western frontier of the Mugan
steppe, and within the Persian borders through the lands of the tribe of
* Shahsevens, who do not recognize any authority; where in consequence of
excessive robberies and disorders for an extent of about 100 versts there is
hardly any settled population.
In order to connect the Trans-Caucasian lines with the chief town of
eastern Persia (Tehran), the route from Allat along the shore of the Caspian
through Saliany, Lenkoran, the Astara custom-house, to Itesht, offers the sole,
natural and most convenient direction.
This route, 345 versts long, will cost with the most favourable technical
conditions for traffic, 15 , 358,250 roubles or 44,517 roubles per verst.
Prom what has been said above it appears that, in order to unite the
Trans-Caucasian lines with Tabreez, one must select the direction of Kivras-,
Khoi, Dilman, Tabreez, and in order to connect with Tehran the line Allat-
Kesht. Both these lines must be examined from the point of - view of their
profitableness as commercial undertakings. Alike the imports from Persia into
Ruosia and the exports are mainly concentrated in two distributary centres for
western Persia in Tabreez, in eastern Tehran.
All goods are despatched either through the custom-houses situated on the
Perso-Caucasian frontier or through Astrakhan and Baku by sea to Bnzeli and
other Persian ports of the Caspian.
Direction to Tabreez, through Kivrag, Khoi, and Dilman.
As a basis of the commercial calculations for the direction of the line
Kivrag-Shah Takht-Khoi- Dilman-Tabreez, 302 versts long, and cost 17 , 778,465
roubles, the data have been taken for the last five years from 1894 to 1898 on
the average quantity of goods passing over the Perso-Caucasian land frontier,
as also information on the spot during the expedition, and English data for
1898 and 1899 , regarding the trade of Tabreez. In regard to imports it is
assumed that all the goods amounting to 500,000 poods will go by the newly-
projected route, and with regard to exports, 75 per cent of the whole quantity—
namely, 2 , 550,000 X 75 = 1 , 912,500 poods.
Purthermore, it must be supposed that with the construction of the line the
conveyance of goods through Trebizond will c^ase, and the imports being
increased by 500,600 poods, and the exports by 300,000 local freights to Tabreez
which has ia0,000 to 200,000 inhabitants, for the local requirements of the
rural populations and towns lying to the south of the projected line I propose
to put down at not less than 1,000,000 poods, 'the total amount of goods,
imports and exports, will be 3 , 212,500 poods with a run of 203 versts, and
1 , 000,000 poods with a run of 150 versts.
The passenger traffic must be taken at not less than 100 persons per day,
with a tariff of 1£ copecks per verst. Bearing in mind that Persia imports
.