'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎613] (682/714)

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CHAPTER XVIII
RAILWAYS
It came on made highways, from far cities towards far cities ; weaving them,
like a monstrous shuttle, into closer and closer union.
C arlyle, Sartor Resartus, bk. ii., cap. ii.
There, methinks, would be enjoyment more than in the march of mind,
In the steamship, in the railway, in the thoughts that shake mankind.
T ennyson, Lockdey Hall.
H aving previously discussed the subject of roads, present and
prospective, in Persia, I now pass to the question of railway
„ . , extension, and the conditions that favour or retard the
Professed
interest in undertaking. Every prominent man in Persia, from the
rai ways gj ia ] 1 (J 0wnw ards, professes to be keenly alive to the
importance of introducing railroads into the country, and can only
return to the question why they are not forthwith commenced the
ambiguous but stereotyped rejoinder that ' there are obstacles in
the way.' The Grand Vizier assured me that he regarded the
opening of railways in the country as the only method by which
Persia could repay the debt of gratitude she owed to Europe for
the hospitable entertainment of the Shah. He said that when,
upon his recent return, he exchanged the splendid lines of Europe
for the abominable tracks that lead from the Persian frontier, he
almost wept at the contrast. I received similar assurances of
sympathy or support from the Governor-General of Khorasan, the
Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of Kuchan, the royal princes, and every minister with
whom I conversed. How then comes it that with this consensus
of favourable opinion no progress is made, and that the railroads
of Persia are still limited to two short lines of a few miles in length
which are detached undertakings and not parts of a general scheme r'
The geographical configuration of the country affords in itself
some clue to a reply. Every railway from the coast must perforce
Physical climb from the sea level to that of the elevated plateau,
obstacles varying from 3,000 to 4,000 feet in height, which con
stitutes the bulk of Persia, and upon which all the great cities are
placed. The passes conducting to this plateau are commonly of
n i I