'Report on the preliminary survey of the route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line. By W King Wood, Assistant Superintendent, Indo-European Telegraph Department.' [‎9v] (23/300)

2
At 3*238, a line of Kanats flowing to Bartun is crossed, while at 3*79, the walled
village of Saifabad was reached, where we halted for the night. The road is
good and level throughout. The soil is loamy and sandy, and presents no diffi
culties for the construction of a telegraph line and is open to wheels.
Note.—The roads in Persia are on the plains a series of tracks, at times 10 to 12 in
number, spreading over a total width of 60 to 70 yards without ditches or boun
daries, while in the mountains they are reduced to a solitary mule track some two
or three feet broad, and in many places too narrow to permit of two laden animals
passing each other.
Saifabad to Koomeshah.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
25th September 1898 ...
3
Koomeshah, 5,291 feet.
17*32
24T2
Prom the village of Saifabad, the road keeps a north-easterly direction with
fallow land on either side, going flat and easy. At -883 miles, a stream of
sweet water, 6 feet by 1, is crossed, while at *890 Kaleh Seydan is passed on
the right, 200 yards off, and Kaleh Batun 600 yards to the right, east—both
small walled villages. Bourje-i-Arzenan is seen 60 yards to the right, east,
at 2*048, and the Imam Zadeh of Bacheh Zainab 30 yards to the left (west). At
2*70 miles, a sweet water stream is brought to the surface by Kanats and is
formed into a canal 7 by 2 feet, which, keeping on the west side of the road,
flows past Daek and is also used in irrigating Zalindar, which is reached at
5*107 miles, lying 500 yards to the west, left. A canal, at present dry, but said
to be full from October to April, and wffiich works a mill lying 50 ya*rds to the
right, east, is passed at 6*198. Prom this point, 6*198 to 6*678, there are five or
six small empty canals, which are crossed by bridges of wooden beams and earth
in good repair. These canals offer no obstacle, and are very shallow. The road
still runs almost due north, and at 8*328 crosses a line of brackish water Kanats.
Another line of Kanats with sweet water is crossed at 9*273, and at 9*518 a
small stream of^ sweet water. Aliabad is reached at 9*625, and we may say
that the cultivation and arable land of Ispahan practically continues up to this
village, a distance of 13*46 miles. At 10*220, four lines of sweet "water Kanats
are passed, and after crossing another line or two of Kanats and a little cultiva
tion and fallow land surrounding them, the large town of Habibabad is reached
at 11*309 miles. At Habibabad, two routes branch off, one going to Natenz,
and the other to Gez. A line of sweet water Kanats, with a descent thereto, is
reached at 13*412, while at 14*680 a small stream of brackish water is crossed
with the Bourji of Akberabad lying 80 yards to the east, right. 15*043 brings
us to more Kanats, and 17*32 to the village of Koomeshah. The whole road
is flat and easy going, and is open to wheeled traffic. A uniform distance in
spans could be maintained. 'From Hahibabad to Koomeshah, 6 miles, the soil
is sandy with a little salty efflorescence, but this would not damage iron.
Koomeshah to Khasehtarash.
Date.
No. of
March.
»
Route.
Intermediate
Miles
Total
Miles.
26th September 1898 ...
4
Khasehtarash, 6,368feet
13*94
3806