TNT British Empire Edition: Turkey-India Rail Route (1871-1872)/Part III

//Ed. Note: this map of the area south of the Gulf of 
Iskenderun was submitted with Barker's report. He 
dwells on the 'insalubrity' of Alexandretta (Iskenderun)
because of fever, which he attributes to the stifling heat 
there (the tie between malaria and mosquitoes was not 
discovered until 1897), but he also notes the difficult 
topography a rail line would face after leaving the port
at Alexandretta/Iskenderun.

Barker is much more positive about the merits of a rail 
line starting at Seleucia (Samandağ), at lower left on the 
map, but emphasizes the dangers of 'fever' in Aleppo,
to where the rail line would extend and pass beyond.// 

//Barker ends his report with a 'recapitulation' of his
assessment, panning Alexandretta/Iskenderun and 
favoring a rail route beginning at Seleucia/Samandağ.
He notes, though, that the 'insalubrity' problem in the
region should be the deciding factor in either case.//

//END of PART III//