"سكة حديد بغداد" [ظ‎‎١‎٠] (١٢٩/٢٠)

completion of the Konia to Eregli section of theJBahgdad Railway, I have the
honour to transmit herewith a copy of the annual Report and financial state
ment of the Societe Ottomane du Chemin de Per de Bagdad for the year end
ing the 31st December 1904i, * which has recently been published by the Ad
ministration of that Company.
I also inclose a Memorandum by Mr. Weakley, giving a summary of this
Report, which will be read with interest.
I have, &c.,
N. R. O’CONOR.
Memorandum by Mr. Weakley.
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith a copy of the annual Report and
financial statement of the Societe Imperiale Cj^tomane du Chemin de Per de
Bagdad for the year ending the 31st December 190 i,* which has been recently
published by that Administration.
The building of the first 200-kilom. section of this line, from Konia to
Boulgourlu, was finished in October 1904/, and the line was officially thrown
open to traffic on the 25th October of that year. It has not been considered
advisable at present, in view of the short length of line, to create a separate
Administration for the working of the railway, and it has been found more ad
vantageous to conclude arrangements with the Anatolian Railway Company for
the administration of this section. 1 he arrangements which have been made
\vith this Company will expire on the 31st December 1907, but they will con
tinue to be in operation every year after that date, and will cease one year after
the date upon which notification may have been made by either side of the
intention to terminate the effect of such agreements.
Among the items which appear in the financial statement is the sum which
has been expended in the construction of the first secrion of 200-kilom., and
which amounts to 43,834/,881 fr. 91 c., or l,953,3G5h This is equal to 217,406
fr. per kilometre, or about 14,000/. per mile. Article XXXV of the Baghdad
Railway Convention, in defining the financial arrangements concluded between
the Imperial Government and the Company states that the Company has a right
to the nominal sum of 269,110 fr. 65 c. for every kilometre of railway built,°so
that the cost of construction of the first section is well within the limits of
the amount specified in the Convention.
The rolling-stock of the railway is valued at 771,637 fr. 45 c., or 30,864/.,
and the following new material was ordered during the year :—
10 locomotives with tenders, 12 passenger carriages, 2 Post Office vans, 4
ordinary vans, 1 restaurant car, 171 freight waggons, and 2 snow ploughs.
The gross traffic receipts derived from the working of the line from the
day it was first opened to traffic, e.c , the 25th Octoberl904 to the 31st Decem
ber of the same year, amounted to 69,417 fr. 23 c., which is equivalent to a
gross annual return of 1,868 fr. 14 c. per kilometre.
Under the stipulations of Article XXXV of the Convention the Company
receives the sum of 4,500 fr. per kilometre and per annum from the Turkish
Government, in order to defray the working expenses of the line. The Companv
has therefore received a sum of 97,359 fr. 96 c., from the Imperial Gov
ernment, which, added to the traffic receipts, represents the total amount due
for working expenses for the period as from the 25th October t o the 31st
December 1904. The actual working expenses of the line which have been
paid to the Anatolian Railway Administration under agreement for the sixty-
eight days of the year (the 25th October to the Slat December 1904), are
found to be 40,503, fr. 4 c., that is, at the rate of about 1,087 fr. per kilometre
and per annum.
Administrative expenses figure at 18,090 fr. 91 c., or about 485 fr. 52 c.
per annum.
4
>iot printed.