'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎1455] (1610/1782)

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who recommended a line from Aleppo to Baghdad vid Birijik, Nislbin and
Musal; and Mr. W. (lifford Palgrave, the Central Arabian explorer,
who had become British Consul at Trebizond.
The following extracts from the Select Committee's report will serve
to show thp scope of their investigations and the nature of their conclu
sions.
The evidence which your Committee have taken, and to which much move might
have been added, has satisfied them that there is no insuperable obstacle in the way of
the construction of a railway from some suitable port in the Mediterranean to some
other suitable port at or near the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; that there is moi*e than one
port which migbt be selected at either end of the line; that there are several practicable
routes; that there would be no difficulty in procuring the necessary supply of labour
and of materials for constructing a railway ; and that their need be no apprehension of
its being exposed to injury bj natives, either during the process of its construction or
after it shall have been completed. They find, too, that there is reason to expect the
panction, if not the active concurrence, of the Turkish Government in any well
conceived project that they may be presented to them.
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Several witnesses have discussed the relative advantages of the various termini, both
on the Mediterranean and on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the principal question with regard to
the former being whether Alexandretta or Suedia should be preferred; while with
regard to the latter, there have not only been questions between different ports, such as
Bussorah, Mohammerah, Core Abdullah, Grane, and Bushire, but the further question,
whether the line should not be carried along the whole northern shore of the Gulf, so as
to establish direct commnnication with the Indian railway system at Kurrachee.
As regards the terminus on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , your Committee are decidedly of
opinion that it wouhl be better to carry the line to some point where it might be
brought into communication with the steaih -vessela which are now under Government
subvention to carry the mails, and which ply from the Indian ports to Bussorah, than to
continue it along the coast to Kurrachee by a very expensive and probably nnremune-
rative route. Of the particular ports which have been mentioned, they are inclined to
prefer the port of * Grane, but upon this point, as well as upon the selection of a port on
the Mediterranean, they think that a local inquiry, conducted by competent scientific
authorities, with a special reference to the purpose in view, would be desirable.
Passing from the question of the termini to that of the route itself, your Commit
tee find that the arguments in favour of, and against, the Euphrates and the Tigris
routes respectively may be thus stated ; —
The Euphrates route is considerably the shorter, would be the cheaper to make;
and, assuming an eqvtal rate of speed, would afford the quicker passage for persons,
troops, or mails passing between England and India. The Tigris route might attract
the larger amount of traffic, and would connect itself better with the projected Turkish
system.
Upon the whole, your Committee are of opinion, that, if the enterprise were to he
regarded simply as one affecting British interests, it would be the wisest course to
* i.e., Kuwait.
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