ملف رقم ٣١٤٢ لسنة ١٩٠٣ "سكة حديد الحجاز" [و‎‎٥‎٢] (٤٨٨/١١٠)

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fThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Government,]
ASIATIC TURKEY.
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[September 30.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 4.
[32537] No. 1.
. Sir N. O'Conor to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 30.)
(No. 619.)
Constantinople, September 25, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a despatch from His Majesty’s Consul at
Damascus on the subject of the inauguration of the MedaimSalih section of the Hejaz
Railway.
I have, &c.
(Signed) N. it. O’CONOIt.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul Devey to ISir N. O’Conor.
(No. 31.)
gi r> Damascus, September 4, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to report to your Excellency that the Imperial Commission
sent from Constantinople for the inauguration of that section of the Hejaz Railway
constructed during the last year since the 1st September, 1906, arrived here on the
22 nd ultimo, and after stopping in this city five days started on the 2 < th on two trains to
Medain-Salih and El-Ola, where they held the inauguration ceremonies on the 1 st instant,
the anniversary of the Sultan’s Accession Day, and returned the next day, entraining for
Haifa. They will later proceed from Beirout via Aleppo and Erekli to Constantinople. The
Commission consists of Ferik Auler Pasha, Ferik Jevad Pasha, Ismail Hakki Bey, and
Ali Nouri Bey, the last two being sons of his Excellency the Turkish Minister of
Foreign Affairs. They were accompanied to their destination at El-Ola by Mushir
Kyazim Pasha, Nazir of the Construction, Mushir Ali Itiza Pash, Nazir of Traffic,
Abdurrahman Pasha Muhafizul-Hajj, and about 100 others of dignitaries and officials.
Since the 1 st September, 1906, the rails have been laid from lebouk to El-Ola,
which is about 30 kilom. south of Medain-Salih. The stations, building or proposed, on
this section are : Tebouk (692nd kilom.), Wadi Athel (720th kilom.), Darul-Haj (744th
kilom.), Mustabka (755th kilom.), Hamis (782nd kilom.), Dezad (805th kilom.) Moaddem
(828th kilom.), Hishm-Sana (853rd kilom.), Dar-el-Hamra (880th kilom.), El-Mutaab
(904th kilom.), Abu-Taker (918th kilom.), El-Mushim (930th kilom.), Medain-Salih
( 953 rd kilom.), and El-Ola (about 980th kilom.).
The earthworks on 40 kilom. beyond El-Ola are being completed, while 44 kilom.
more are prepared for work as regards plans and profiles. From the other end, at
Medina, 4 kilom. are already finished and 46 kilom. are being laid out.
The number of troops working on the line from this side to El-Ola and beyond is
about 5,000, while three battalions are working at the other end from Medina, all being
in good health and receiving their pay regularly.
The stations are not built yet, except at Hamis, where a blockhouse is nearly finished,
and in a few other places the foundations have been laid and cisterns for water
constructed. At El-Moaddem there is an ancient reservoir which contains in its present
condition 11,000 cubic metres of water, but if it would be cleaned and repaired it will
have a capacity of 16,000 cubic metres.
According to an opinion expressed by the Mushir Kyazim Pasha, Nazir of
Construction, the troops between Medain and El-Ola could lay down 4 kilom. of rails
in one day.
I have, &c.
(Signed) G. P. DEYEY.