'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎252v] (509/610)

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In addition to working these lines of ito own, the Department
since 1885 by a “ friendly ” arrangement with the
of Posts and Telegraphs (see below) has
Persian Telegraph Administration s line from Tehran
The Ze Tin charge of a British Gazetted officer, who make
In a^ual iSpection of it, and 3 members of tte Departmental
staff are employed on it, the Government of India making an
annual grant towards their salaries, etc. The Persian Govern
ment also makes an annual contribution towards the repairs
and renewals of the line.
The Arahistan lines, Bushire—Ahwaz—Dizful—Sus, and
Ahwaz—Muhammarah, total distance 417 ^ miles with 8
offices have been constructed and are maintained by the Depart
ment on behalf of and at the expense of the Persian Government,
Persian Telegraph Administration.
The lines belonging to the Persian Government are worked
bv a Persian Staff under the control of the Minister of Posts
and Telegraphs in Tehran, assisted since 1911 by Mr. x New as
Adviser, who was seconded by the Indo-European Telegraph
Department for service with the Persian Government.
A “Chief of Telegraphs” is included among the depart
mental officials who form the staff of provincial governors.
For all details of internal administration the official is directly
responsible to the department in Tehran.
The working and materials of these lines under a Persian
administration and with a Persian staff naturally compare
unfavourably with the Indo-European lines worked by their
British staffs.
The lines are of single wire on roughly constructed wooden
poles and the transit duration of the messages, especially where
they change lines, e.g., from Tehran to Khurramabad (Tunaka-
bun) via Rasht, or Tehran to Firuzkuh via Samnan sometimes
amounts to several days. They are, however, only required
to transmit Persian internal messages and, compared witn
other branches of Persian administration the organization and
development of the telegraphs are good and yield an annual
surplus over and above their working expenses. 1
1 Mr. New was engaged as Adviser. On the renewal of his contract a paragraph
was added that he would act as Director General with his powers to be Axed by the
Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. These have never been defined and he has
been unable to obtain full powers for the organization of the administration.