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The Municipality works spasmodically on the four main roads cutting through
the town. The one from west to east is half completed and the one from north
to south, starting from the once famous Koran Gate, has reached the Isfahan
Gate at the entrance to the old Bazaars. The widening of the latter road necessi
tated the demolition of the Koran Gate and it is intended to widen the bridge over
the river.
The Khiaban Zand, claimed to be the finest and widest avenue in the country,
has been extended eastwards to Mahalle Darb Shehzade, cutting through the Gov
ernment buildings in the old Fortress and the Bazaar Vakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. . Work was stopped
for a time on this, but recently began again and is now in progress.
Another road, parallel to the Khiaban Zand, has been extended westwards
to the garden quarter of Shiraz, known as Masjid-i-Bardi, and is completed as far
as Khollar Wine Factory An East India Company trading post. . The continuation of this road, which is in fair condi
tion, leads to Ardakan and to Tul-i-Khosrovi, a new town in Kuhgilu district which
is being built as a tribal centre.
The only provincial road on which any appreciable work has been carried out
recently is the Shiraz-Kazerun-Bushire road. Repairs were carried out on certain
parts of this road in anticipation of the passage of the Shah.
The new route to Bushire via Jahrum-Firuzabad, is still far off completion. In
the dry season it is fairly good as far as Jahrum. There is opposition to its con
tinuation from the inhabitants of Kazerunk but the alignment is superior, there
being no difficult passes to get over.
The main road to Isfahan is maintained in fair condition. For some years,
it is said, the expenditure of the Municipality has exceeded its income. It would
appear that some check has recently been placed upon this, for various works in
hand have been stopped and left in an unfinished condition. A part of the Bazaar
is in ruins through the road construction work already mentioned. All vacant
plots of land in the vicinity of the town have been surrounded by walls in order
to give the town a finished appearance. Work is proceeding slowly on a new Muni
cipal Hospital. The building in the Government fortress garden, known as the
Kolah Faranghi, has been renovated and is used as a Museum.
A technical school has been organised during the last twelve months with two
Germans to teach engineering and mechanics. Night classes for adults are being
attended in various schools in fairly large numbers and arrangements for weekly
lectures have been made. The standard of education and also of teaching is im
proving gradually.
The town lighting has already been mentioned. It is satisfactory and com
pares favourably in price to the public with that in other towns in Iran.
The Shiraz Telephone Company maintains a service, with Siemens apparatus,
under the regulations of the Postal Department. It is as good as is usual in this
country.
The postal and telegraph services are maintained fairly satisfactorily trans
port of mail being given out on contract by the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs.
Foreign Trade .—
The principal imports to Shiraz are piece-goods, sugar and tea. The first
named is entirely in the hands of the Sherket-i-Qumash, which opened two shops
in the Spring and sold cotton goods to the public at lower prices than had been ob
tainable before by shopkeepers in the bazaar. Small retail merchants have since
been supplied by the Company, but they are only permitted to sell at a fixed profit.
The Sherket-i-Ghand va Sheker disposes of all products of Iranian sugar fac
tories and also imports and distributes sugar, mostly of Russian origin. The Com
pany also controls the Sherket-i-Chai, which similarly handles all trade in tea.
Most other imported articles are handled by the Sherket-i-Tijaret-i-Fars va
Banader, which is 86% owned by the Government through the Agricultural Bank’s
participation, and which itself owns shares in other Companies engaged in export
and import trade.
The exports from Shiraz are mainly gum tragacanth, lambskins, dried fruits
and almonds, and carpets. These are now all handled by Monopoly Companies
in which the Government has some measure of control.