'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎629] (698/714)

RAILWAYS
construction of the preliminary section of this railway, on the
grounds that it would involve considerable expense, that for a time
it might require to be guarded, that it would be open to flank
attack from the north, and that there would be no immediate com
mercial return. The latter objection applies to every single railway,
without exception, that might be devised or made in Persia. No
railway would pay for three, or four, or five years. On the other
hand, the potential resources of Seistan and the uses of a new
entrance for Indian and exit for Persian goods across the east
border are so great that I believe such a railroad might in time
become a profitable speculation. The other questions appertain
to the sphere of strategy, which I have touched upon in an earlier
chapter, and which I will dismiss with the remark that no strate
gical railway has ever been laid that has not had to pass through
the ordeal of these or cognate objections.
Such a line would, undoubtedly, before long be succeeded
by branches from the Indian Ocean or Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the starting-
points of which miefht be Pusni. Gwadur, or Chahbar ; or,
9 Trans-
Persian in deference to the existing trade routes. Bunder Abbas.
The advantages to British trade of such an opening up of
south-east Persia, involving, as it would, more intimate communica
tion with the central and north-east provinces, would be as great
as would the gain to Persia resulting from the new and more ex
peditious outlet for her exports in opium, cotton, and dried fruits.
The optimist whose vision ranges into the far future will contem
plate the extension of a railway system thus inaugurated through
the heart of Persia, via Isfahan, to Shushter, and an ultimate
junction with lines running north to Teheran and west to Baghdad.
Such a prospect has great theoretical attractions, and its realisation
would he the saving of Persia. Optimism, however, is a plant to
whose growth the climate of Persia has, so far, given none but the
most meagre encouragement, and I prefer not to project my gaze
into so nebulous a future.
The project of uniting Bushire with Teheran by a direct line
passing through Shiraz is one that I do not believe will ever be
10 B realised, owing to the enormous difficulties of the country
shire- between Shiraz and the sea. A series of parallel ridges,
Teheian w ] 1 i c } 1; f rom their character and steepness, may almost be
described as ladders, and which rise to a height of over 7,000 feet
above the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , separate the two places, and could only be