مراسلات وأوراق مطبوعة وقصاصات صحفية تتعلق بشركة البنك الفارسي لحقوق التعدين المحدودة [ظ‎‎٢‎٥‎٩] (٥٨٦/٥٦٠)

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 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