Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-01
POSTMASTER GENERAL GRESHAM

his flslt TO SaVannah-HOW He was Re
ceiVed-His Views Of the Fast Mail Ser
VIce-He will Recommend an Appro-
priation for its Continuance
The train upon which Postmaster Gen
eral w. z. Gresham Travelled from Florida
10 savannah arrived here at 2:30 yester-
/ day afternoon, and the distinguished
visitor was met by the following commit
tee: His Honor Mayor R. Z. Lester, for
/ the city; Judge W. 5. Chisholm, for the
railroad interests; President J. B. Duck
worth, for the Cotton Exchange, and
j. X. Clarke, Esq, for the Board
| of Trade. In the escort Of this
/ delegation Gen. Gresham was driven to
/ the Screven House, where a room was
/ furnished him. and he enjoyed a few min
/ utes' rest from his not and tiresome
/ journey.
A little after O'Clock three carriages
1 were driven to the Congress street
/ entrance of the hotel, and in a few min
/ utes they were filled by prominent citi-
/ zens, representing various interests, in
| the foremost vehicle being seated Gen.
| Gresham, Mayor Lester, Capt. Geo. A.
Mercer and Mr.. Clarke. The party
! was driven to the post office,
where all alighted, and behind
a competent guide the tour of inspection
OF that Institution was made. The Post
master General noted everything with
apparent interest. Then the party afoOt,
/ the carriages following, proceeded up
Bay street until the custom house was
reached, where, with Collector 7. F..
| johnson, the interior of that build
! ing was thoroughly explored. Across
| the street the party continued its
| tour Of inspection into the City EX-
! change, where the departments of the city
/ government were explicitly explained by
Mayor Lester. The seats in the carriages
were then resumed and the party moved
up Bull street. The drive continued
/ through several Of thep prominent thorough
fares, and as tar out as FORSYTH Park
The Historical Society's library build
ing was visited. The streets, and
especially the park, were highly
cOmplimented by Gen. Gresham. The
short drive ended. the carriages again
/ brought up at the Screven House, where
all alighted and repaired to the parlors on
| the first floor, where a short and informal
reception was held, many prominent citi-
zens availing themselves of the oppOrtu-
mty to form the acquaintance of the dis
tinguished visitor.
At . O'Clock dinner was served in the
north parlOr Of the hotel, and twenty
/ SIX gentlemen assembled about
the board, which was laden with a superb
banquet. There were no speeches and the
only toast drank was one to the health of
the Postmaster General. The nearness of
the hour Of the departure of the Charles
/ ton train prevented any lengthy stay at
the table, and at S O'Clock Gen. Gresham
retired, hastily prepared himself for his
homeward journey and escorted to the
| Savannah, Florida and Western Railway
! depot by the same delegation who re-
ceived him, he took the Charleston train
which left at S:37 O'Clock.
During the afternoon a reporter of the
MORNING NEWS enjoyed a few minutes
| conversation with the Postmaster Gen
/ eral. The conversation turned upon the
/ subject Of the fast mail on the Coast Line
/ Railway system, which has of late been a
( subject of much interest to the people of
| the towns along the line. Gen. Gresham
said that one of the purposes Of his visit
| Southwark had been to look into the
/ operation of the fast mail service. and
what he had seen had impressed him with
the necessity of its improvement, and
! that he would not only do what he could
| for its improvement, but for the eX-
tension of fast mail service to points
| beyond jacksonville. He said that it was
his purpose to strongly recommend and
urge an appropriation sufficient to give
the sections that deserved it a fast mail
/ service, and thatif the appropriation were
made he should certainly use portion Of
it to continue the fast mail on the Coast
Line and TO extend the same service to
points south of Jacksonville. 1t would
not be advisable, of course, to ask for
separate appropriation for fast mail ser
vice on the Coast Line because a request of
that kind would be made the basis for de-
malding fast mail service in localities
where it is not needed, and would perhaps
result i'll defeating any appropriation for
that sort of service. He had no doubt, he
said, that the fast mail on the coast line
would be continued.