"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎٤] (٣٩٦/٥٥)

38 PERSIAN GTJLF ADMINISTRATION REPORT
The Company is still busy testing their property. At the close of the
year, 3 wells were being allowed to flow, 27 others were capped and, with little
further work, will be in a position to produce whenever required. Pour were in
the process of drilling. The total is thus 34 wells^drilled or drilling against 30
at the close of the yearjil913. The woll at the White Oil Springs, after reaching
2,095 feet, was abandoned, but, as a result of further geological research, it was
determined to sink another well further up the valley.
In the month of September, a reputed oil show was discovered in the
range of bills some 7 miles to the west of Ahwaz. Striking oil anywhere in
this neighbourhood would, of course, be of the very greatest importance
and would lead to the rapid development of a large field. The test well, how
ever, bored 5 miles to the east of AJiwaz, failed to find oil and was abandoned
at 3,'317 feet.
a scheme for supplying the fields with fresh water by a 6 pipe line from
Darreh Khazineh has been worked out but is not likely to be put in hand for
the present. An alternative site for the pumping station would be on the
Karun to the north of the fields. The two advantages of this location—shorter
length of pipe line, and possibility of a water 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
w . , T . „ erected during the months of June and
Wireless Instaltoc. July , It s f tuated 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 and 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 ov^n yards at Ahwaz.
bhe is slightly larger than the " Shushan," but more powerful.
The location of the Escort and Dispensary and Consulate in separate houses
British Interests.' various parts of the town at some
% distance from the Consulate beins: obvi
ously objectionable, a lease 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.
During the year under review, transport was subject to continual interrupt
tion, both as regards Lynch and Native
Ahwaz-Ispahan Transport. forwarding, but more particularly the
former.
• firsfc sus P e 3 sl0n traffic took Place on the 28th January, on the occa-
sion of the evacuation oi Ahwaz by the non-Muhammadan population, the
resutt oi the arrival of the Turkish forces in the district.
In April, Lynch opened a temporary establishment in Bushire for the
purpose of diverting to the Bushire-Shiraz road, cargo lying at Mohammerah
m transit tor the north of Persia. Towards the end of May events permitted
a resumption ot traffic vm Ahwaz, and this continued without break, though at
times only tentatively, until toe beginning of November when it became
r Tf ' ^ r iness was n ? lcin S er P?Mible in Ispahan. Direct forwardments
< ■ „ T !"' howeyei '' continued until the evacuation of that centre took place.
_ neral resumption of traffic bad not recommenced bv the close of the vear
From thw it will be evident that the Ahwaz-Ispahanmd waTopen fofsix