Page 784 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

50 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE
It is to be hoped that this vexed question will be settled before the
commencement of next financial year.
Trade.
Trade has been somewhat stagnant owing largely to the big stocks on
hand and the fluctuations of exchange. There have been no bankruptcies but
there is undoubted uneasiness os to the future.
The Imperial Bank of Persia have opened Agencies in Dizful and
8hushtar during the year and have accordingly considerably increased their
business. The presonce of these Agencies is a groat assistance to the
merchants who are now able to transact their financial business in Dizful and
Shushtar instead of having to proceed to Aliwaz to do so.
The Agencies of Messrs, the Mcsopotamia-Persia Corporation and Messrs.
Strick Scott and Company in Dizful and Shushtar are progressing favourably,
but whether it is due to pressing business elsewhere, or to a disinclination to
trust their Native Agents with large stocks, they do not seem to be pushing
their trade in those new fields at present.
The Dizful Bridge Company has paid a yearly dividend of 9 per cent, on
the British Government-owned Preference Shares and 18 per cent, on those
held by private persons.
I understand that one of the British Firms at present trading in Arabistan
may be invited to take over the British Government shares and incidentally,
the management of the Bridge Company, which is at present invested in the
Political Officer.
Messrs, the Anglo-Persiau Oil Company have not as yet commenced any
operations in this district, but preparations have been made to open up the
road between Shush and their workings at Deklurnh in Pusht-i-Kuh if
required.
They have been supplied with 102,299 maunds of wheat and 17,275 of
grain from Shushtar and 7,000 maunds of wheat from Dizful during the year.
The success of the Dizful Bridge Company and the inestimable asset of
the bridge to the town of Dizful, has made the inhabitants of Shushtar desirous
for their own bridge over the Shatait to be repaired and a dam constructed at
the same time. The scheme would result in the complete irrigation of the
country between the Skahtait and Karun. Plans and estimates have been
prepared and it is hoped that with the financial and moral assistance of the
British firms in Arabistan combined with money locally subscribed this long
looked for scheme may see fruition.

Communication.
The road between Dizful and Shush and Shush and Ahwaz has been kept
open for motor traffic throughout the year, but the Jack of any funds either
from the Persian Administration or the British Government makes this task
increasingly difficult.
The wooden-trestle bridge over the Shaur river near Shush, the replace­
ment of which by a permanent structure was the condition on which His
Majesty's Troops evacuated this area has not yet been commenced. The
attention of the. authorities has been drawn to this fact, and it is hoped that
the work will soon be taken in hand.
A road for ford cars has been discovered between Dizful and Shushtar via
Papehch-Sar-Besheh-Gutwand and Qaleh Ali Rushan, which brings this town
considerably nearer Headquarters. Up to date without the road being touched
the trip has been done in 30 hours, the approximate distance being 65 miles.
It is however impassable for a day after heavy rain.
The possession of at least two ford cars is now more than ever a necessity
for the Political Officer in charge of this area.
Crops were poor in comparison with last year but there was no sickness
amongst cattle or sheep.