Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1885 — Newspapers in America. [ARTICLE]

Newspapers in America.

People generally, and everi those who may be termed steady readers and clo- e observers, have but a faint conception of the magnitude and inliuence the press of tiiis country has Attained. From a careful examination of the advance pages of the 1885 edition of the American Newspaper Directory, issued May Lst, by George P. Rowell & Co., of New York, it appears that there are 14,147 newspapers and periodicals published in the United States and Canada; of these the United States has 12.973, au average of one paper for every 3,867 persons. In 1884 the total, number of newspapers was less by 723 than at present, and while the gain this year is not so marked as in some previous years, it is still considerable. Kansas shows the greatest irierease. tpe number Being 78, W-iiile Illinois follows with a gain of 77. It is curious io notice that New Yotk, the scene of so much political activity daring the last campaign, should,; have only about one-third as many new newspapers as the state of Pennsylvania, /Vs an index to the comparative growth and prosperity of diferent sections of the country, especially the Territories, the number of new papers forms an interesting study, and may well occupy the attention of the curious.