"مذكرة حول إدارة التلغراف الهندو-أوروبية وسرد للأحداث حتى نهاية سنة ١٨٩٨" [و‎‎١] (٢٠/١)

1899.
Memorandum on the Indo-European Telegraph Depart
ment and Narrative of Events to the end of 1898.
The following are the dates on which the various lines to India were
completed:—
2. Under a treaty with the Ottoman Government dated 1864,* which still
Constantinople-Bagdad line from Bagdad to Khanikin on the Persian frontier
and from Bagdad to the mouth of the Shat-el-Arab (Fao), the Govern
ment of India undertaking to connect Bushire with Fao by a cable. The
materials for the land lines in Turkey were to be supplied by the Indian
Government, which was to be repaid by deductions from message revenue,
but the salaries of the British Engineers employed were to be defrayed by
the Indian Government. The sums advanced on account of materials for
the Turkish line amounted to 26,266^., and were finally paid off by Turkey
in 1875-76. The section from Bagdad to Khanikin and Teheran was
completed on the 13th October 1864, and that from Bagdad to Fao on the
2nd Februarv 1865.
3. At the end of 1864, under a convention between Russia and Persia*
the line from Moscow to Tiflis had been extended to Teheran, but the
service on this section was very indifferent. On the 27th January 1865 the
Teheran Bushire section, consisting of two wires, was also completed by the
Indo-European Telegraph Department.
4. At the beginning of 1865 there were, therefore, three routes from the
Persian Gulf to Europe, one via Bushire, Teheran, Tiflis, and Moscow;
another via Bushire, Teheran, Khanikin, and Bagdad, and a third via Fao
and Bagdad. The tariff for a message of 20 words from England to India
was 51. or Fes. 125, but the transmission was exceedingly slow and
unreliable, the average speed being about five days. The average traffic
receipts of the Department from March 1865 to 31st March 1869, were
about 94,882Z. per annum.
6. On the 15th August 1869 the Gwadur Jask section of the Mekran Coast
land line was completed, and, on the 6th November of the same year, a second
cable from Jask to Bushire was laid, thus completing a second through line
from Karachi to Bushire. From the 1st January 1869 the tariff was reduced
to 2Z. 17s. for 20 words and 1/. Us. for 10 words. The traffic earnings during
1869-70 amounted to about 76,370Z.
6. In 1874-75 iron posts were erected between Teheran and Bushire
instead of the old wooden ones, and a third wire was attached to them.
7. The delays to messages between England and India were at this time 1
subject of universal complaint. A Parliamentary Select Committee on E
India Communications, including Telegraph,” sat and took evidence in 18i
and various proposals were made for the improvement of the telegra
755G. I. 1130. 50.—9/99. A.
Indo-European Telegraph Department.
Mekran Coast land line from Karachi to Gwadur -
Cable from Gwadur to Mussendom, Bushire, and
April 1863
8th April 1864
Fao
(This cable was diverted from Mussendom to
Jask and Ilenjam in January 1869.)
Cable from Gwadur to Karachi
16th May 1864
* Appendix, No. 1.
remains in force, the Ottoman Government
agreed to extend their then existing