'Report on the Preliminary Survey of The Route for The Central Persia Telegraph Line from Quetta to Bam and Pahra' [‎43r] (90/162)

7
The quality of the water* at Dalbandin and Mushki Chah is so bad that
, . ^ . these two places ought to be rejected. If
* For analysis ride paragraph 5. rv lu j* , • u..
necessary the Dalbandin water might pass
practically as potable, but that at Mushki Chah can, in no circumstances, be
considered good for drinking. The following arrangements might suit. To open
offices at Nushki and Mirui for Ladis route, and at Nushki and Chahsundan
for Koh-i-Malik Seah route. The plan will then be like this :
Ladis
l
l *67*
Mirui
J
I 169*
Nushki
1
r~
Quetta.
I
93 I
Koh-i*Malik Seah Chahsundan Nushki Quetta.
1 ■ l i
l 194! i igo* I 93 1
. The supply of water at Mirui and Chahsundan is from wells, not plentiful,
but its quality is I think fairly good. I know of no other recommendation. The
altitudes of both places are about 2,900 feet, and 3,100 feet, respectively ; the
climate is probably most oppressively hot in summer ; and the surroundings are
absolute desolation. Photographs Nos. 13 and 14 are views of the existing thanas.
I am rather afraid that the distances of Mirui and Chahsundan from the
adjoining offices I have fixed on above may be too great to ensure that the dura
tion of interruptions to telegraph communication be kept within proper bounds.
Of course the closer offices are together, the quicker can damage to the line be
located, and repaired. As a tentative measure, I would suggest that temporary
offices be opened for, say, six months at the places I mention along the trade route,
if the telegraph line is constructed this way, until it is seen how the arrangement
works. Perhaps the Political authorities could manage to provide the necessary
house accommodation for these at the local thanas. If it will be found that offi
ces are necessary at shorter intervals, then the following places might be suitable
for them: Nushki, Yadgar, or somewhere in its vicinity further south, Chahsun
dan, Mirjawa, or Saindak. The plan will then appear thus:—
Koh-i-Malik Seah.
In this case the office at Ladis, or Koh-i-Malik Seah, would require to be
moved further west. For about 134 miles west of Chahsundan there is no place
suitable for an office, as the quality of the water midway is so bad.
Cost of observation offices.
10. All the present buildings along the trade route are katcha, or, to use an
English word, perhaps flimsy, although not quite appropriate, may describe them.
Photographs Nos. 10 to 16, attached, will show what some are like. D&k bungalows
are being built at important stages, but, at the time of my recent tour, only one
or two were near completion. I regret the photograph I took of tne Mipji
bungalow a good looking building, turned out badly. For a permanent telegraph
line more substantial work for offices would 1 think be required. The drawings
and estimates of the cost of construction of bungalow's for observation stations,
which I gave in statement I, attached to my former report, also the particulars
in paragraph To therein, may, with some slight modification, still hold good. Tnus
a bungalow with three rooms and out-houses at Nushki w'ould cost about Rs.
13000 at Mirui or Chahsundan say Rs. 16,000, and at Ladis or Koh-i-Malik
Seah Rs. 20,000. Instead of this latter amount l formerly said Rs. 23,000, but
perhaps Rs. 20,000 may suffice.