Page 63 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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Appendix IV.
Report by Captain Wells.

Comparison of routoo from Ispahan to tho Sea.
Tho ordinary routo from Ispahan to tho sea now followed by kafilas is via Shiraz to
Bushido. Along this routo caravansorais nro built ut convenient distance?, and supplies aro
forthcoming.
From Ispahan to Shiraz there is little or no engineering diffioulty, and with a email (com­
paratively) expenditure of capital a good carriage road could bo made.
Distance from Ispahan to Shiraz 323 miles.
Beyond Shiraz tho road is in places oxecrable and scarcely passable for laden mules, but
is capablo of vast improvements and a carriago road could follow its general direction.
Tho distanco from Shiraz to Bushire is 196 miles.
Along the Bakhtyari route via Ardall and Malimir, thoro aro no caravanserais of (iny sort,
no bridges over several of tho rivers, and in winter, when tho nomad population moves bodily
to-the Shuster plains, thcro would bo no supplies.
However, supposing tho Karun river were opened for navigation to' Shuster, and the
necessary canal dug out at Ahwaz, goods could ho unshipped within 275 miles of Ispahan, that
is, 244 miles nearer than via Bushiro, for Bushire to Ispahan is 619 miles, still the difficulties
to be met within these 275 miles are very great. It has been suggested that a light railway
might run over them, but this is in my opinion out of the question, as tho cost of the under­
taking would be enormous. Tho valley of the Karun and its tributaries having sqch precipi­
tous sides that it would often be necessary to carry the road in galleries cut in tho hill sides
for miles, the bridging too would be tremendous, and if the lino wore carried out at right
angles to the series of ridgesi that lio between tho plateau of Chahar Mahal and Malimir,
the line would ho little better titan an alternation of tunnels and viaducts. I think tho railway
engineer would prefer to take his line from Shuster via Hehbeban to the Ardakhan valley j he
would find no stup°ndous obstacles this way, and would have warmed himself to the ruof of
Central Persia, without crossing one of tho tidges that guard it. He would tap, too,.its most
fertile plains and include Shiraz. The 7,2«'0 foot Kotul that lies between Ardakhan and
Shiraz has no difficulties or gradients that a “ FairlieV' engine, suoh as is used between Poti
and Tiflis, would not negotiate. Or I should recommend • the trial .of the valley of/the
Shahpur river from Bushire to Nodun, wliero a tunnel would lead through to the river Shur
of Fahalyun, which runB from Ardakhan.
But to return to roads. The difficulties of the Bakhtyari routo are considered so great at
Dizful that all kafilas for Ispahan go via Burujird, and it might be best to take them from
Shuster via Dizful and Burujird to Ispahan, though the distance this way must be at least 350
miles from Shuster, probably 380. UnfoitunaMy I have not seen this route, so cannot speak
of its merits ; however, water is said to be plentiful and the road not bad.
Certainly this is the case from Burujird to Ispahan.
The difficulties of tho Shiraz-Bushire read are all within a distance of 93 miles, oil., from
Daliki to the Karagatch river.
Those of the Bakhtyari route arc within the distance of 117 miles from the plain of
Malimir to the borders of Chahar Mahal.
1. The Shiraz road is certainly villainous from Daliki to the Cona Takta plain, a
distance of 11 miles.
2. Again, the Kamaridgc Kotul is abominable, 6 miles.
3. To avoid the Karagatch, heavy work would be required for 4 miles.
4. To avoid the Kotul Dukhter and curve, a road out of the bill-side to the south
of it, 6 miles.
5. To turn the Kotul Pirizan and make a carriago road to Dasht-i-Arjan, 12
miles.
To turn the Sena Safid Kotul, 6 miles.
Total 44 miles.
Thoso 44 miles allow for gradients and comprise all the heavy works. I think the five
miles for the Kotul Dukhter might be saved by ontering the Dust-i-Bar from the Shabpmr
valley, but of this I am not positive.
The Bakhtyari route is, in my opinion, out of the question for wheel traffic.