ملف رقم ٩٣٠ لسنة ١٩١٢ "سكة حديد المحمرة - خرم آباد؛ [و‎‎١‎٣‎٩] (٣٩٦/٢٨٤)

17
double handling, would make shippers unwilling to use the line, particularly as the
ocean going steamers can now unload straight into barges which are towed up to
Nasiri without breaking bulk, and are passed through the customs there instead of at
Mohammerah.
Other Local Traffic. — Hawizeh may be expected to give 200 to 300 tons imports
and 1,000 to 1,500 exports; this figure would probably be doubled in three years after
the railway was in working order.
26. Reason why Mohammerah and not Ahwaz should he Terminus of the Raihcay.
A brief note on this point seems necessary owing to the persistent public advocacy
of Ahwaz as the terminus of this line by Mr. H. F. B. Lynch, who, as managing
director of the “Euphratus” and “Tigris” Steam Navigation Company, presumably
views with concern the possibility of competition by the railway between Ahwaz and
Mohammerah with his steamers on the Karun.
The Ahwaz-Mohammerah line will be cheaper ; the river boat service is slow^ and
uncertain, owing to shoals, dust-storms, &c. Landing facilities for cargo at Aminieh
would be difficult, owing to shoals in river, which frequently changes its main channel.
The river boat service, unless a very large increase of traffic took place, could not run
more than two boats a-week ; and goods and passengers would run the risk of waiting
three or four days at Mohammerah, if not more. The interposition of a river steamer
service would involve two, if not more, additional handlings of the goods, involving
expense and risk of breakage which is a heavy item in this country.
27. Reasons why Shushter should not he touched hy the Railway.
( 1 .) It would add about 20 miles to the length of the railway.
( 2 .) It would involve the construction of three large bridges on the Karun and
its tributaries, and several minor ones, thus adding greatly to the cost ol the line ;
the alignment via Shushter would, moreover, independently of the necessary bridges, be
considerably more expensive per mile than that via Dizful.
( 3 .) It would involve negotiations with the Bakhtiari Khans in respect of the
Shushter-Dizful section, and with the Shushteris in regard to the Band-i-Kir-Shushter
section; both are difficult to deal with, particularly the latter,
( 4 .) Shushter is a decaying town, and would be so to a greater degree but for the
fact that at present it serves as a depot for Dizful. Its needs are sufficiently supplied
by the steamer service on the Upper Karun. The town is, however, mentioned in the
Shah’s rescript referred to above, on the subject of railway concessions, and it appears
in the British note to Persia on the subject.
28. Time required for Construction of Mohammerah Dizful Railway.
Since construction could be started at half-a-dozen points without inconvenience
(communication by river extending to within town of Dizful, close to the line of lailway),
the rate of construction will depend chiefly upon the amount of labour employed. There
would seem no reason why the line should not be completed within two yeais from date
of commencement of actual operations. . .
Labour is plentiful, work can go on all the year round, and as far as this section is
concerned, practically nothing is needed but the simplest earthwork, and not much
of that. . i u • i j 4 ,
Any concession for such a railway from the Persian Government should include the
right to run steam- or motor-boats and barges on the Diz and Upper Karun foi the
purpose of transporting material, &c.
29. Persian Gulf Terminus: Reasons why Mohammerah and not Khor Musa
should he selected^
The navigation of Khor Musa is not without danger, owing to the Ummul Siswan
and Ummul Dibab rocks. It is destitute of fresh water, which could only be brought
with great difficulty from near Fallahieh or Buzieh, 40 miles distant. I e w 10 e
land for many miles round and inland is flooded twice daily at high tide, anc ai rer
* The terms of our application of March 31, 1911, for a railway option were “ for aport at Khor Musa
and for a railway northwards as far as Khoremabad, with a branch to Mohammeiah if ouuc cesira
[2150 x —4
F