'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎632] (701/714)

PERSIA
The writings of the late Sir W. P. Andrew, of Commander
Cameron, and others, and the evidence and report of the Select
Euphrates ^ ommittee appointed by Parliament to examine the
question in 1872, have familiarised the public with the
arguments in favour of a railway to India by the Euphrates or
Tigris valleys, and with the possible lines of country that might
be traversed. Starting on the Syrian seacoast, opposite Cyprus,
either from Suedia (the ancient Seleucia) or Alexandretta (Iskan-
derun), or Tyre, or Tripoli, or Kuad Island (Aradus)—all of which
maritime bases have been recommended by different experts the
railway would proceed in an easterly direction to the Euphrates,
either on a northerly line via Aleppo, or on a southerly line vid
Palmyra. The Euphrates reached, the railway would either follow
the right bank of that river to Eusrah and ultimately to the port
of Grane or Koweit on the Persian Gulf—a total distance of
approximately 1,000 miles—or would cross the Euphrates, strike
eastwards to the Tigris, and descend the latter river, so as to bring
Baghdad within its scope—a bridge being again required at this
spot—proceeding thence, as before, to Busrah or Koweit. Broadly
speaking, these were the main proposals placed before the Parlia
mentary Committee and discussed in the volumes referred to. The
minimum estimated cost of such a railroad, if constructed as a lio-ht
line upon a metre gauge, was 6,000,000^.; the maximum, if con
structed as a permanent highway upon the European 4 feet 8| inch
gauge, or the Indian 5 feet 6 inch gauge, varied from 8,500,000/.
to 10,000,000/. At Busrah or at Koweit—more probably at the
latter, because of its excellence as a harbour—shipping would again
be resorted to, and would be continued either to Kurrachi, or, as
some proposed, to Cape Jask, whence a land line would conduct
along the Mekran coast to Kurrachi. Such, in outline, was the
scheme for supplying a shorter and alternative land route to India
hat recommended itself to so many authorities, was urged by such
a e ac vocates, and excited so much popular attention in the
Seventies.'
In the very fact that neither the attention which it then
excited nor the voluminous literature to which it gave birth have
Objections sav ed it from an almost complete extinction, might be
scheme discovered an inferential argument against this scheme.
Its superficial attractions, judiciously dressed up in a
gai of patiiotism, were such as to allure many minds; and I