Page 392 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

39 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

The Company is still busy testing their property. At the close of tho
year, 3 wells were boing allowed to flow, 27 others wore capped and, with little
further work, will bo in a position to produce whonevor required. Four wero in
the process of drilling. Tho total is thus 34 wells drilled or drilling against 30
at tho close of the ycarjl913. The wdll at tho Whito Oil Springs, after reaching
2,095 feet, was abandoned, but, as a result of further geological research, it was
determined to sink another woli further up tho valley.
In tho month of September, a reputed oil show was discovered in the
range of hills some 7 miles to the west of Ahwaz. Striking oil anywhere in
this neighbourhood would, of course, bo of tho very groatest importance
and would lead to tho rapid development of a large field The test well, how­
ever, bored 5 miles to the east of Ahwaz, failed to find oil and was abandoned
at 3,317 feet.
A scheme for supplying tho Golds with fresh water by a 6" pipe lino from
Darroh Khazineh has beeu worked out but is not likoly to bo put in hand for
the present. An alternative site for tho pumping station would bo on the
Karun to the north of tho fields. The tivo advantages of this location—shorter
length of pipe lino, and possibility of a wator turbine pumping installation—
are, in the opinion of the officials of the Company, more than neutralised by
the isolation and loneliness of such a position and the consequent difficulty in
getting European Engineers to stop there.
A Wireless installation of the same size as that at Bushire and Basrah was
erected during the .months of June and
Wireless Installation.
July. It is situated at Naftah about 4
miles south-west of the fields.
At the end of May, the question of the defence of the oil-fields was exa­
mined on the spot by a committee of officers. The decisions then arrived
at were modified in the light of further investigations aud inquiry, the
final conclusion arrived at being that a Brigade could hold Naftah and the
Wireless station, and would find the present water-supply there sufficient.
In August, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company placed on the upper Karun a
2 foot draught stern wheeler which they had built in their own yards at Ahwaz.
She is slightly larger than the “ Shushan,” but more powerful.
The location of the Escort and Dispensary and Consulate in separate houses
in various parts of the town at some
Britis!) Interest*.
distance from the Consulate being obvi­
ously objectionable, a Ioase was obtained of the buildings on each side of the
Consulate. The resulting concentration in one compact block of buildings is •
very satisfactory.
The British Post Office was opened on December 7th. The necessary
accommodation was found in the Consulate buildings.
In August, a 3 years’ lease of the Moin’s 27 acre garden was obtained for
the troops.
Dqring the year under review, transport was subject to continual interrupt
fcion, both as regards Lynch and Native
Ahwaz-Iapatan Transport. forwarding, but more particularly the
former.
'The first suspension of traffic took place on the 28th January, on the occa­
sion of the evacuation of Ahwaz by the non-Muhammadan population, the
result of the arrival of the Turkish forces in the district.
In April, Lynoh opened a temporary establishment in Bushire for the
purpose of diverting to the Bushire-Shiraz road, cargo lying at Mohammerah
in transit for the north of Persia. Towards tho end of May events permitted
a resumption of traffic vid Ahwaz, and this continued without break, though at
times only tentatively, until the beginning of November when it became
evident that business was no longer possible in Ispahan. Direct forwardmenta
to Hamadan, however, continued until tho evacuation of that centre took place.
General resumption of traffic had not recommenced by tho close of the year.
Prom this it wilj be evident that tho Ahwaz-Ispafyan road was open for six