'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy Mesopotamia, Vol IV' [‎116r] (231/270)

C0PT/y*3
Ko.c/385/1^56
Office of director of Hallways
5a«rhdtid, E9tb January 1^19
Aiemoraadua
ji.a it appears possible that & Oivil
Governtnent cwi-y not be set up in this country for BOffie tiitse,
I thini: it advisable to brine to your notice the ^orlc which
is involved in completing the Ba^hdud-Basrah Baa^hdad-
^.banikin lines.
War Office telegram Ko. 73864 of January 13th
merely epcuke of completing the Ur-Hilluh portion the
Euphrates route, but as it speaks of this line ae the
backbone of future construction in this country, I assume that
the intention is that the whole system Basrah-Baghdad-khanikin
is to be brought up to a reasonable commercial standard of
efficiency.
This involves certain works whose necessity is
open to no doubt, while others can be deferred.
X sugsrest therefore, that the following
Memorandum should be forwarded to the wax Office for the
information of the Xiepartcent of H.IiSs. Government which is
concerned with the future of Mesopotamia. H.k‘s. Goverairjent
will then be in a position to say if we are acting on lines
which have their approval, The principal items of the work
to be carried out may be ^rouped as follows
(1) The completion of the embankment and laying the
rails between Mr and hillah. The work is already in progress.
48 miles of embankment have been completed, and wooden pile
bridges over the ^t/ahan, Bsbel and Hill ah branches of the
Euphrates are in progress. 60 miles of rails are avallabIs
and will be laid 'rom Ur northwards; the remainder (100 miles)
cannot be layed until conditions adr.lt of dismantling the
kut-Baghdud line. Assuming that this can be commenced in
July or August it is anticipated that rail communication between