Page 92 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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CHAPTER VIII
i Construction of Roads in aid of the Karun River Trade.
212. One of (ho main objoots of the Karun rivor enterprise was to open
an easy and short rouro from the Persian Gulf to Northern Persia, especially
the cit’ios of Ispahan and Toll era u and tap the trade of t ho north. To meet
these purpo^os it was essential that good roads should bo constructed between
Aliwaz and Shuster and tho northern towns. A few route's havo recently beon
opened by British Companies by right of concessions obtaiuod with great
difficulty, and worked amidst almost insurmountable difficulties.
(i) The Ahwaz-Iapahan or Bakhtiari ltoad.
i
213. In 1897 a concession was granted by tho Persian Government to the
Bakhtiari chiefs for tho construction and maintenance of a road, with its
caravanserais from Aliwaz to Ispahan via Malamir, Godar-i-Balutak and
Khavoiukk.as also from Shuster to Ispahan. Tho work of construction was on-
Secret E., Scptoaibor 189*. No*. 2*3-239, trusted by tho Bakhtiari Chiofs to Messrs.
(No. 235- H.). Lynch Bros, on these conditions :— The
latter wero to be allowed full lihoity of adapting existing ways or tracks for cara­
vans and of tho formation of diversions and of construction, whether of bridges
or caravanserais, or in any way in connection with the roads. Messrs. Lynch
Bros, agreed on their part as soon as practicable, to place au iron bridge ovor the
Karun at (lodar-i-Balulak, to build a bridge at Pul-i-Amarat, to clear the existing
track of boulders wherever they deemed this necessary or expedient, and to build
caravanserais and tomporary or other residences for engineers or workpeople
at such points as they considered necessary for exigencies at the time. Messrs.
Lynch Brothers contracted to carry out these works for a sum not exooeding
£ 5,600. The Bikhliari Khans were to pay Messrs. Lynch Bros. 6 % per
annum on their outlay and to repay the capital by annual instalments of 1,100
tomans : tho first instalment and first year’s interest to fall duo on tho 3rd
March 1901, subsequent interest and instalments to be paid at the end of each
succeeding year—iutcrest to he calculated on balauce of capital aftor deducting
instalments paid on aooount of capital.
244. Three bridges w-ere constructed on the road :—
(1) over the Karun at Godar-i-Balutak ;
(2) over the Buzuft river at Pul-i-Ainarat ; and
(3) over tho Karun at Dopulan.
2 45. The first, a suspension bridge, the largest of the three, was completed
in December 1S99, and tho road was soon
Secret E., March 1900, No. 188.
after opened for traffic.
246. Some serious differences have arisen between the Bakhtiari Khans
and tho Lynch Bros, over the payment
See note*.
of the latter’s debt tho details of which need
not be given here, as the subject is outsido the province of this Prdcis.
(ii) The Shuater-Iepahan Road.
247. This road was covered by the concession granted to the Bakhtiari
Secret e., September 1898, Noe. 213—219 Khans by the Shah in 1898. It was to
(No. 235-b.). join the Ahwmz-Ispahan road at Malamir.
Sec Napier*. Military B'port on Soulh.JTt't Tenia, TllO TOad WQS included in tllG agreement
between the Bakhtiari Chiefs and the
Lynch Bros.
218. It was proposed in 1902 that this road (including presumably tho
Shuster-Ahwaz-Malamir Branch) should
Secret E., March 1902, No. 638.
be taken over by the “ Persian Transport
Company ” of which the Lynch Bros, are managing agents as well as share­
holders.
It does not appear whether this proposal has been carried out.