Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/71

Rh paper-maker to supply the requisite quantity of paper, or to the falling off of custom, is greatly reduced in size, being only 15 inches by 19—and printed upon paper which can scarcely be compared to the coarsest and bluest of the tobacco paper of the present day.—Another paper—the "Western Luminary"—of similar character and appearance was published for a short period at Watkin's Settlement Scipio — and when, in 1799, Cayuga County was formed, and the county business transacted for the time being at Aurora, the office of "The Aurora Gazette," was soon to be observed, located in a log edifice a little towards the south end of the village. This was published by Messrs. H. & J. Pace, upon type which had probably done good service in the old world for some twenty, thirty, or forty years, the long s of which and numerous other traits bearing evidence of its antiquity—and which after the removal of the county buildings to this village in 1805, was used in enlightening our early citizens through the columns of the "Western Federalist." Its first competitor, if we mistake not, in 1814, the "Cayuga Patriot," originally issued from the upper story of a wagon maker's shop in Mechanic street, (then Lumber Lane,) forming a small weekly quarto of 8 pages—which has now for many years been published in another shape by Mr. Isaac S. Allen. Then came (in 1816) the "Auburn Gazette," which, in typographical and business appearance, was very far ahead of any thing to be found in this section. It was commenced by Messrs. Skinner & Crosby, the former of whom was still connected with the business as publisher of the "Gazette, Republican and Journal," until January, 1841.

In 1824, the "Auburn Free Press" was commenced by Mr. Richard Oliphant, and although at that time the sheet upon which it was issued was thought to be of a monstrous size—being larger than any of the preceding publications in this section, yet it now appears scarcely credible that it was not near half the size of our present sheet—its number of inches being 520, while ours is 1176. In the above list of papers we have overlooked the "Cayuga Tocsin,"" commenced at Union Springs, in 1812, which after a brief career there, was removed to this town, soon to lie down among the things that were—only to be called to mind at this day by the establishment of its namesake in 1839—now published by Messrs. J. C. Merrell & Co.

Until the time of the establishment of the Free Press, in 1824, the old Ramage or Screw Press, was the only kind used in this section—and until 1829 the only mode adopted in the bestowment of Ink upon the form or type, was by the use of large, heavy, clumsy leather balls. But from that time improvements have rapidly followed each other. The introduction of the Washington Cast Iron Press, in '24, accompanied as it was, by the composition roller, in '29, had greatly reduced the labor previously experienced—and the still more recent invention of Seth Adams & Co., of Boston, one of which has just been procured by us, cannot fail to make a still more thorough change in every thing connected more especially with book-printing. This press, with the assistance of one person to supply it with paper, and another to turn the wheel, will get off more than four limes as many sheets in the course of a day, as the article in ordinary use; and when it is considered that each sheet may be of double the usual size generally used upon the old press, the great advantage will be apparent to all. It is a beautiful invention; and judging from its workings for the few days it has been in operation, promises to work admirably—'making books' at a rate which only a few years since, would have been looked upon as altogether beyond belief. With the exception of a few of this invention in New-York, and a single one in Albany, this is believed to be the only article of the kind in the State, affording advantages to such of our publishers as wish to avail themselves of its expeditious movements—and to our citizens generally, a view of one of the finest specimens of mechanism ever formed."

The publication of the above article by Mr. Oliphant seems to have aroused the dormant early recollections of our friend Weed of the "Albany Journal," and called forth the following, which is too good to be lost. Speaking of the article quoted above, Mr. Weed says:

"Here is a delightful reminiscence. It recalls events and brightens images which would have long since faded out, had they not left their impressions upon the mind in its spring-time. Who that remembers Western New-York thirty-five years ago, can look upon the change without amazement? Instead of the every day, gradual progress which industry and enterprise, guided by intelligence, accomplishes, it seems as if some Fairy had passed through the wilderness, converting, by a touch of its wand, tangled forests into waving fields, log-cabins into splendid mansions, Indian wigwams into Christian Temples, and blind foot-paths into Railroads and Canals.

"Thirty-three years ago, every newspaper in this State, and nearly all in the Union, were as familiar to our eye as that which now bears our imprint. Then each Exchange Paper had its appropriate wire, and was regularly filed. Ihen Printing was quite another affair. Machinery has robbed "the Art preservative of all Arts" of much of its glory. Rollers and Steam do the work which performed. Printers now learn but half the duties which pertained to our craft in other days.

"The allusions in this article to the "Western Federalist," the "Cayuga Tocsin," and the "Cayuga Patriot," carry us back to an early period in the history of the Press of Western New-York. We shall never forget Messrs. H. & J. Pace, of the "Western Federalist," at whose office we called in 1812, when on our way to obtain a situation in the "Cayuga Tocsin" office. Those dumpy little Englishmen were mounted upon stools, setting type that must have been cast soon after the Reformation, for they were worn nearly down to the first nick. Everything about