New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-23
THE PRESIDENT IN WASHINGTON.

HIS RETURN IN GOOD HEALlh-SENHHi"'
pLERs ACCOUNT OF THE TRIP.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNB.l
xvs,,,>ScTov Anril 22-Two or three hundred
xorsons were at the station tonight, waiting Tor
tbs train which brought the President and MS
,,ortv from the South Among them were Attorney
Genera Brewster and several personal irlends, VINO
had been made uneasy by reports OF the freSiuehts
illness As he aligbted from his car ne
stood in a full light, and to those VINO
stood near him he seemed in good condition.
AS soon as he could disengage himself from the
crowd he walked through the station TO MS car
RAGE When the President alighted from the tram
and shook the hand of friend the latter asKeo
chow are you feeIugi L came down here because
feared from the reports that you might be serious
ly ill.,
81 am feeling perfectly WELL" the President
oricklv replied- as we'll as ever. in fact. have
not been sick at ALL" The President then added
that he had suffered from slight lndispostion for
a few hours but that 1t was nothing worth men
6Oning.
A TRIBUNE correspondent asked Secretary Chand-
Ter in what condition the party had returned MI.
Chandler said that the trip had been successful IN
every respect, and that the whole party Dad re-
TUNED in the best of health and spirits, resulting
from the complete change of scene ana occupa'ioh'
and from constant exercise in the open ar ana sun
shine The Secretary denied with vlgor the reports
of the Presidents severe illness 1.-The Presidents
sH,bt ;ndisnositon at Savannah" said he, 81 at
tribute to long ride in the hot sun; but II lasted
onlv few bours The statements telegraphed by
some of the correspondents giving him malaria
and 'chills' are purely sensational. He has had
neither at any time. On the other hand he has
been greatly benefited By his excursion, and has
yIsibly gained in health and vigor
What sort of a trip did you have"
"Whie the citizens of the localities have recog-
nized that the excursion was solely Tor rest
and recreation, and have respected the
Presidents well-understood wishes for privacS,
vet there have been constant offers OF
bospitaty and service. The people OF
Jacksonville furnished handsome escort from the
cars to the steamer and requested longer stay ana
a formal reception. Governor Bloxham and the
other State authorities of Florida urged public
visit to Tallahassee. The citizens OF Sanford ana
St. Augustine rendered many attentions during the
quiet soiourns at those cities. at Savannah, whlle
the President were making bnef visit TO his
connections, the only formal reception OF the tTlp
took place at the City Exchange, where the utmost
cordiality and good feeling was manifested Dy the
Mayor and Aldermen, by other representative men
and by the citizens generally. During the journey
south from Sanford, the representatives of the
various Improvement companies extended every
facility for an exploration of the country and for an
Investigation of the enterprises by which they ex-
peot to reclaim and to open for settlement many
millions of acres of fertile land now worthless be-
cause of its overflow
The Southern States traversed
evidently making good progress in ma
terial prosperity. rapid railroad ride to
Florida and return, aud brief visits there and
at Savannah, do not of themselves afford iull
means for judgng but the signs of improvement
a, IL. 1tlrn and
apathy which saw on a trip in 1855 and the dis
tress and ruin which saw IN January, 1860, have
all disappeared. With her immense agricultural
resources her vast forests and her rapidly develop
ing mines ana water-power. the South has future
before her different from, but far exceeding III
wealth and material prosperity that Of which 1t
vainy dreamed before 1851
I'm Florida the forests and orange-grove lands
are of great value, while winter visitors swarm at
every available resort. Sanford is a thriving city,
where few years ago there was no resident. IL the
plans of the improvement companies for drawing
the surplus water of the region below Sanford
through Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchle
River into the Gulf of Mexico at Punta Rosa are
successful great area of rieh cotton and sugar
lands will be redeemed Without having studied
the question with care, may venture TO say that
discovered no engineering financial reason why
their plans are not feasible nor why success may
not result from the work already begun.
Savannah when saw il In 1860. had its harbor
obstrueted with wrecks aud cribs; no vessels were
at its wharves; its trade seemed ruined
and its future hopeless. To-day vessels
OF all nations line its river front il is our second
cotton-exportiDg port; its shipments of lumber are
heavy. aud its prosperity and prospects are un"
bounded.
of four leading Northern newspapers instructed 10
follow the President on private journey under
seem to have been regarded as legitimate newsps-
per enterprise By most of the newspaper publishers.
The correspondents however performed their mis-
sion with entire delicacy and discretion aud were
personally courteous. They recorded many incidents
which actually occurred but are all blessed with
lively imaginations and great rhetorical gifts.
As already stated Their sensational dispatches
about the Presidents sickness were unjustifabe.
As they were not upon the lallapoosa on her trip
from ST. Augustine TO Savannah their account of
that voyage Is entirely fanciful. The correspondents
offered the opportunity 10 make the sea voyage
on the Tallapooss from Savannah 10 ashlngton,
but their instructions were gi not 10 lose sight Of
the Presidents party, and none but MI EoWards
accepted tue invitation"
THE LAST DAYS JOURNEY.
THE TRIBUNE correspondent, who accompanied
the President and his party on his Southern trip,
furnishes the following account of the last days
journey:
lhe President sat up nearly all day, having been
awakened by the jotins of the cars and the confu-
son incident 10 changing the trucks at Wilmington
~ O'Clock this morning Since midnight he had
elep' lot an hour at time and the dlsqueting
symptoms that had sent him to his berth after
su"'o' suosoed. II was not yet o'clock when he
"iO'e' ana sat for awhile in the parlor compart-
inent OF the car looking out upon the change that
and f,!I a. Tsre ave had worked from country reh
r nu ~ tu I'm IN iolsge and yerdure aud warm with the
~ u June 70 TIE bleak skies and scant growth Of
DaA"atd Iitt spIing he took at breakfast boiled
no, bs s.s k toast and cup OF coffee but could
Sr U0 lSrher. The other members of the
Se ssTnooa s99n o0Pbsa bS, sR and he With them into
sation. '"'' 4u 'neu oonfoi-
:" Ii had been intended "a .rro,.. .s,.., Ia
Reremptorily unless the President had b.sn be,te1
ans morning. ,. last nights dispatches having given
instsn,s no,e sni es ready TO slart at