Canada point

n. a place away from a city’s center where newspapers are distributed to newsboys and news agents. Subjects: New York City, English, Media

Editorial Note: Now historical. This term appears to have been used only in Boston and New York City. Etymological Note: Probably by comparison of the remote locations of such centers of distribution to the vast expanses of Canada, although it is possibly influenced by the common use of crosstown streets in New York City as landmarks or reference points, which is similar to the the use of geographic latitudes, or parallels, to refer to places and distances in Canada.

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Citations: 1906 Washington Post (Sept. 18) “A.F.L. Council Will Frame Political Plan” p. 4: A committee…appeared, claiming jurisdition over those boys working at “Canada” points, that is, the wholesale and retail distribution of newspapers at several points in large cities. 1906 Washington Post (Sept. 20) “Abolition Of Child Labor Asked By A.F.L.” p. 2: It was decided to sustain Newsboys’ Union of Boston by ruling “that the the [sic] wholesaling and retailing of newspapers at the so-called ‘Canada Points’ is comprehended in the charter and jurisdicition of the Newsboys’ Protective Union.” 1937 Canny; Rosenberg Lexicon of Trade Jargon (Nov. 29) “Newspaper deliverers jargon”: Canada-point man. Distributes to newsboys from truck at certain sections. 1937 Individuals; Wayne Walden @ New York City Lexicon of Trade Jargon (Dec. 6) “Slang of newspaper and mail delivery (rewrite Canny)”: Canada points—Points such as at 42, 125, Streets, Union Sq. etc. where newspapers dealers may obtain supplies from a seller stations at points. 1938-39 Individual delivery workers at Park Row, New York City @ New York City Lexicon of Trade Jargon “Mail and Newspaper Delivery Workers’ Slang and Jargon”: Canada-point man. Man who makes deliveries to dealers and newsboys at points far up-town. 1972 New York Times (July 12) “Lauren D. Lyman, 81, Won Pulitzer Prize” (in Bridgeport, Conn.) p. C8: The newspaper was aware that the competition sent copy boys to Times Square, the first delivery point, to check for stories and so the edition with the Lindbergh exclusive was dispatched to so-called “Canada points,” or outlying districts first.

Posted 1 Jul 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend