Onondaga Creek
The settlement that became Syracuse arose in a forested swampy area at the creek outlet in the early 1800s as a result of the state of NY constructing the Erie Canal and developing salt production on the shores of Onondaga Lake. From this time forward, the natural meandering flood plain of the creek was periodically channelized and straightened to facilitate uncontrolled development of the creek-side and flood plain upstream towards the Onondaga Nation Reservation. A "progress"-based economic cycle involved land developers purchasing farmland and building in the adjacent rural towns, followed by flooding, sewage, water supply, and school crises. The city of Syracuse would then respond to petitions by the new homeowners and businesses to formally ask the state legislature to annex these lands. By the turn of the twentieth century, this cycle accelerated due to the city acquiring water rights to Skaneatles lake, and the development of street car lines.
The Post-Standard
On July 10, 1894, "The Syracuse Post" was first published. On Dec. 26, 1898, the owners of "The Daily Standard" and "The Syracuse Post" merged to form "The Post-Standard". The first issue of the newly merged paper was published Jan. 1, 1899. The merged company was based at 136 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse.
By 1900, Syracuse had a population of 135,000 and the publication had a "sworn circulation" of 17,575 daily, 12,571 semi-weekly and 15,195 on Sunday. It was touted as "a clean, wholesome, aggressive, up-to-date newspaper." The newspaper bragged that ""The Post-Standard" has a larger circulation than any other daily paper between Greater New York and Rochester."