Page:History of American Journalism.djvu/148



As the cities increased in size and became more commercial centers, the newspapers became more valuable as advertising mediums. The publishers soon became rivals in the matter of publishing the news of the stores and began to issue their papers more frequently,—first, semi-weekly, and later, tri-weekly. From this it was only a step to bring out a paper every day in the week save Sunday.

The first daily newspaper appeared in Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 21, 1784; it was entitled The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser and was published by John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole. From 1791 to 1793 Dunlap was the sole publisher, but in the latter year Claypoole again became a partner until December, 1795, when Dunlap withdrew. From that time it was published by David C. and Septimus Claypoole, under the title of Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, until the death of Septimus in 1798. When, on September 30, 1800, it was sold to Zachariah Poulson, Jr., it became Paulson's American General Advertiser. On December 30, 1839, the paper was merged into the present North American of Philadelphia. Such, in brief, was the history of the first daily paper in this country.

Because The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser was the beginning of daily journalism in America, a word or two may not be out of place in this connection about the contents of the first issue. It was a four-page sheet of four columns to the page and sold for four pence per copy. The first page and the last were filled entirely with advertisements. The third