Skip to item: of 586
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Correspondence, Printed Papers and Newspaper Cuttings Relating to the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation Ltd [‎259v] (560/586)

The record is made up of 2 volumes (276 folios). It was created in 1 Jul 1889-20 Dec 1892. It was written in English and German. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

flow to a dangerous extent. On tlie upstream side of the bridge the flood level
is almost 20 feet above the ordinary level. The natural bed of the river consists
of conglamerate with a calcareous matrix, and the level of this has m some places
fallen as much as 8 or 9 feet since the bridge was constructed ; and the lower
portion of the piers at those places consists of the natural conglamerate, which,
not having any facing, and being of a material which gradually yields to the
action of the water, it has become undermined and hollowed out to an alarming
extent. In a cavern hollowed out underneath one of the pieis, I measured a
depth of water of 15 feet, while in another it was still deeper. These hollows
detract much from the strength of the piers and increase the cost of repairing
the bridge. Two years ago an attempt was made to fill up one of these, but
the floods in the following spring completely destroyed the work which had been
done.
Two arches have fallen, and the debris has almost entirely filled up the gap
thus produced, the small remaining portion having been bridged by throwing a
few poles across, and covering them with brushwood.
Photographs 13 to 19 give various views of the bridge which may be useful
in realizing to some entent the damage done, and the state of the remaining
piers. Photographs 17, 18 and 19 show the six worst arches, but all are partly
decayed.
To repair this bridge would be possible, but it would be attended with great
expense and risk as it is very difficult to put in good condition a structure such
as this. Certainly not less a sum than £7,000 would be required besides which
I am afraid a large amount would be spent yearly for upkeep.
As long as it is possible to keep the bridge open by the expenditure of a
small sum of money, I would propose doing so, and if at any time a large portion
of the bridge were swept away, I am inclined to think that at least in the
meantime our transport should be carried cn by means of a ferry or otherwise.
SHUSTEP BRIDGE.
This bridge is 21 feet broad and has a total length of about 1,700 feet.
Two hundred and fifty feet of it has been completely washed away and the
bridge on either side of this gap much damaged. A short time ago an attempt
was made to repair this, and a few thousand tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. thrown away, but it was
quite futile, and it was soon found to be a task quite beyond the miserable
appliances at the disposal of the builders. As the pitching is intact in almost all
the remaining arches the whole force of the current has been thrown into the
gap, with the result of deepening the channel about 20 feet below its former
level, thus making it quite impossible for the Persian mason to construct the
necessary foundations for the new arches. To repair this bridge would be
throwing money away, as, even supposing the present gap was repaired, there
would still remain a long approach, part of which might suddenly give way, and

About this item

Content

These papers, which are spread across two volumes, contain material relating to mines and mining rights in Persia, and more specifically to the affairs of the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation Limited, of which George Nathaniel Curzon was a director.

The first part (26 March 1890-27 March 1892) is mostly comprised of received correspondence regarding Curzon's appointment to the board of directors of the recently formed Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation and the company's interests in mines and mining rights in Persia. Also included in this part are facsimiles of company correspondence and reports, forwarded to Curzon by the company's Secretary, Lewis Hamilton, concerning the company's affairs, with discussion of existing and potential mining sites in Persia. Notable correspondents in this part include Edward Albert Sassoon of David Sassoon and Company, as well as fellow board members and other representatives and associates of the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation such as Lewis Hamilton, Sir Lepel Henry Griffin, and Albert Houtum-Schindler.

The second part (1 July 1889-20 December 1892) consists of Curzon's own handwritten notes plus a selection of reports, printed papers, newspaper cuttings, and correspondence, not only on mining and mining rights in Persia, but also regarding the affairs of the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation. It includes a list of those mines that are privately-owned and those that have been given in lease by the Persian Government, as well as details of Persian mines that are at the disposal of the Imperial Bank of Persia. Papers directly relating to the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation include copies of a memorandum and articles of association, as well as circulars, balance sheets, and a copy of extensive correspondence between the company and Houtum-Schindler. Also included is a copy of the general report of another company, the Persian Road and Transport Company, dated March 1891.

Among the papers are four plans: three of the Elburz [Alborz] mountains (folios 33, 36 and 45) and one showing transport routes across Persia (folio 266).

The German language material consists of three book titles cited by Houtum-Schindler.

Extent and format
2 volumes (276 folios)
Arrangement

The papers in both volumes proceed in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio of volume one (ff 1-138) and terminates at the last folio of volume two (ff 139-276); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-276; these numbers are printed, and are not circled. The foliation sequence does not include either the front and back covers or the flyleaves of the volumes.

Written in
English and German in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Correspondence, Printed Papers and Newspaper Cuttings Relating to the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation Ltd [‎259v] (560/586), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/71, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100115597949.0x000096> [accessed 20 February 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100115597949.0x000096">Correspondence, Printed Papers and Newspaper Cuttings Relating to the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation Ltd [&lrm;259v] (560/586)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100115597949.0x000096">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002a8/Mss Eur F111_71_0607.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002a8/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image