'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎244] (279/714)

244
PERSIA-
centres than is provided by dilapidated horses, laborious camels,
and sore-backed mules. We contemplate a day when, whatever
be the transverse communications from north to south, the main
cities in the centre, from Kermanshah in the west to Kerman in
the east, shall be united by steam lines, following the direction of
the valleys and surface depressions, whose general inclination is
almost without exception in a favourable direction—viz. from north
west to south-east. From a trunk line so designed, with which
must ultimately be connected the Indian system, a Seistan rail
way would be but a slight and that a natural diversion to the
north. At the same time connection with the sea would be
established by a line running either via Bampur to Chahbar, or
rut Regan and Minab to Gwadur; or, if a more easterly port be
required in Beluch, i.e. British protected territory, to the excel
lent harbours of Pusni or Kalmat. Indeed, if the Sind-Pishin or
Bolan Railway to the present Indian frontier be considered, because
ot its liability to destruction by flood, an insecure basis for a for
ward line to Seistan, the latter might perhaps start into indepen
dent existence as a purely Beluch railroad from the coast, through
' ari jS lir towards the Persian frontier, while some authorities have
recommended the connection of such a line with the Indian system
by a railway from Kurrachi through Mekran. The Indian Ocean,
in correspondence with such a railroad, would then play the part to
Eastern and Sou th-Kastern Persia that the Caspian Sea, in corre
spondence with the Transcaspian Railway, does to the north-east;
and the combined powers of steam by sea and land would effect a
i e\ olution in a few years that may otherwise be awaited for cen
turies. Perhaps, to employ Bellew's phrase, neither our children
noi oui children s children will hear the whistle. But when we
are long dead and gone and forgotten, may be some itinerant
reader of books may pick our volume from the shilling stand of
obsolete literature outside some antiquated shop in a back street
of London, and congratulate us, even in our graves, on having
anticipated and fondly endeavoured to promote what will then be
an achieved consummation.