Page:History of American Journalism.djvu/96

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Troy, New York, asserted that he could, with the utmost econ- omy, conduct his paper at thirty dollars a week. His estimate was somewhat lower than that of other editors of his time be- cause he was able to get paper cheaper on account of the fact that a paper-mill had been built in Troy about five years pre- vious.

ADVERTISEMENTS OF PERIOD

When John Campbell brought out The Boston News-Letter on April 24, 1704, he announced that "Persons who have any Houses, Lands, Tenements, Farms, Ships, Vessels, Goods, Wares or Merchandizes, &c. to be Sold, or Let; or Servants Runaway, or Goods Stole or Lost; may have the same inserted at a Reasonable Rate, from Twelve Pence to Five Shillings, and not to exceed: Who may agree with John Campbel Post-master of Boston." This list is fairly typical of the advertisements in- serted in colonial newspapers. In many instances the Boston post-office was made the clearing-house: the first advertise- ment in the second number of The News-Letter offered a reward for the return of two iron anvils, weighing between one hundred and twenty and one hundred and forty pounds each, which had been lost "Off Mr. Shippen's Wharff," provided they were re- turned to John Campbell, Postmaster. Many of the advertise- ments contained the stereotyped expression, "For further in- formation, inquire of John Campbell, Postmaster."

The third number of The News-Letter contained the following advertisement :

A t Oysterbay on Long-Island in the Province of N. York, There is a very good Fulling-Mill, to be Let or Sold, as also a Plantation, having on it a large new Brick house, and another good house by it for a Kit- chin, & work house, with a Barn, Stable, &c. a young Orchard and 20 Acres clear Land. The Mill is to be Let with or without the Planta- tion: Enquire of Mr. William Bradford Printer in N. York and know further.

This insertion in the third number showed quick action on the part of Bradford when it is considered how long it took to get a letter from New York to Boston at that time: it also showed that Bradford was familiar with, and was