I'm reading Incidents in the life of a slave girl, and in it, the author mentions reading the evening paper every day to see if anyone from the South has arrived to look for her:

I kept close watch of the newspapers for arrivals; but one Saturday night, being much occupied, I forgot to examine the Evening Express as usual. I went down into the parlor for it, early in the morning, and found the boy about to kindle a fire with it. I took it from him and examined the list of arrivals. Reader, if you have never been a slave, you cannot imagine the acute sensation of suffering at my heart, when I read the names of Mr. and Mrs. Dodge, at a hotel in Courtland Street.

When did the practise begin, and when did it end?

Edit: The city the author talks about is New York.