Page 230 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

88 PERSIAN GtJLP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
1 per cent. of tho above 3 per cent, in order to cacourngo the Company tn
in other parts of bis country. * 10 drill
During (ho year work at the Abadan Refinery has continued steadil
the exports show a substantial increase. 7 and
The quantity of various grades of refined oils exported reached \ total
163,000 tons. Over and above Lliis heavy consignments of cased oil of
despatched for the local market.
The Imperial Bank of Persia.—Notwithstanding that it was a had
for business, the Bank reached their turnover of the previous year. year
Messrs. Lynch Bros.—Mr. Martin, the Agent at Mohamtnorah, died •
March and was relieved by Mr. Ashton who was invalided for typhoid later *U
the year. He was relieved by Captain Rawlins, who has recently died ^
of
cancer.
Messrs. Gray Mackenzie and Co, were represented by Mr. Spence
throughout the year.
An Admiralty Commission consisting of Admiral Sir Edmond Slade
K C.V.O., K.C.I.E., Professor Cadman of
Oil Commission.
the Birmingham Univerisity, Mr. Blund«
stone, a mining expert, Mr. Pascoe of the Geological Department of the
Government of India with Mr. Clarke, of the Board of Trade, as Secretary
arrived on the 26th of October and were joined by Mr. James, the Geologist to
the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
They proceeded to Alrwaz and the Oil Pields on a tour of inspection of the
Anglo-l’ersian Oil Company’s concessions, returning to Mohammerah on the
7th November.
They left for Kuwait on the 10th of the same month returning again on the
17th, leaving finally in H. M. S. “ Sphinx ” on the 20th en route to Bahrain.
The Commission was much struck with the possibilities and prospects of
the Oil Pields.
Tb'' option for the railway from Mohammerali to Khurramabad having
JMommenk.Kltm.mab.d Ewl.aj. tecn obtained br a British Syndicate, four
engineers, Messrs. Whitelaw, Apted,
Moore and Douglas, arrived to commence the survey in April. They completed
the preliminary survey in the Spring.
Captain A. T. "Wilson, C.M.G., who had been appointed Political Officer
at Dizful, in connection with the railway, had already proceeded to Ahwaz en
route to Dizful on the 28th March He remained in Luristan and Dizful and
finally proceeded home on leave, in May.
Having completed their preliminary survey of the portion of the country
between Mohammerah and Dizful, tho survey party proceeded to India, except
M*. "Whitelaw, who proceeded home.
They returned to Arahistan in September while one of their number,
Mr. Douglas, travelled to Hamndan via, Baghdad to meet Captain Wilson who
was returning to Tehran and who, accompanied by Mr. Douglas, travelled
through Luristan from the North arriving in Dizful in November.
Captain Wilson made arrangements with the various tribes en route for the
safe passage of the party for the survey of Luristan.
Captain Crosthwaite had, in the meantime, been appointed to relieve
Captain Wilson, who had been nominated Deputy Commissioner with toe
Turco-Pcrsian Frontier Commission.
Captain Crosthwaite and the survey party were joined by Dr. Young at the
end of November. Dr. Young represented the Railway syndicate.
with
Pourparlers were carried on with tho chiefs of the Luristan tribes
reference to the payments which they required for the safe conduct oi
railway party through Luristan.
be
Captain Crosthwaite and Dr. Young finally decided that they
too much at the meroy of tho tribes through whose country they woul y
and who would be able to demand what sums they wished once they haa b