The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-14
Prcsfdens Garrett Inpsn theIvallsy
Railroad Dirl. So

In hisaddrcss the other day TO the stock
holders Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
Mr.. Garrett mentions many evidences OF
the immense influence, remarkable enter
prise, and unlimited capital of that COM
pany. We give what he says about the
Valley railroad:
In an address upon a similar occasion .
year since, had the honor TO present 10
this board views in reference TO the impor-
lance of a line of railway from Harper's
Ferry through the Valley of Virginia, to
connect with the Virginia and Tennessee
| railroad. and thence by the connections of
that road through the intermediate States
to New Orleans. 1t was understood that
these views received the sanction of this
hoard and this community. The large
population in the great and fertile regions
which would be so favorably affected by
this improvement failed to secure such
legislation at the last session of the Legis-
laturc of Virginia as would induce the ne
cessary investment of capital in this enter
prise. The entire population of the Valley,
and the regions that would be so vastly
benefited by work Of this magnitude and
importance, are intensely anxious for a
successful result.
In intercourse with the leading citizens
Of that great State who desired to confer
on this subject, your Executive has in
formed them that as the Baltimore and
| Ohio company has before it enterprises
which are absorbing, and will more than
absorb, all the means it can command, yet
if the State of Virginia should desire
the aid of its capital, and Of capt.
talists who might be influenced in
their investments by this company, it
will be gratified to cooperate in pro-
noting the restoration of the prosperity
of that State, by developing, as undoubt-
eddy would be the case, the manufacturing
the mining, and the agricultural interests
of the extensive regions which would be
affected by the prosecution Of this work
| 1t is understood 10 be the sentiment OF
many of the most sagacious statesmen OF
that commonwealth that no means should
| be omitted to attract capital from other
States for investment in internal i'm.
provements within her borders. The prac-
teal fact is before the people of that State
that the Baltimore and Ohio road, differ
ing in this respect from the roads in Vir-
GINA which have received large contribu-
fions from the State, and from the nOn-pro-
ductiveness of which the taxpayers have
suffered most severely, has furnished to
the people of West Virginia superior road
for travel and transportation, without hav-
ing obtained dollar Of aid from the State,
and at the same time supplies them with
transportation under tariff rates which are
one-third less than those charged in the
State of Virginia by the works constructed
under the direct auspices of that State
With the prospect of such advantages tc
their agricultural, manufacturing, and other
interests, where the farmer and manufac.
turcr would be thus enabled to add direct
ly to their wealth, not only by the facili-
ties of the work designed, but by the diff,
ference of charges under the system of the
Baltimore and Ohio road Of one-third the
cost compared with the ordinary charges
for similar transportation in Virginia, it is
believed that the Legislature will not long
fail to respond by such wise action as viii
serve such vast and important interests.