The Placer herald., 1873-01-25
23.
PROGkESS OF THE PRESS.

The Commissioner of Education appends
to his report this year some int resting statis-
tics of the press and its progress. In 1885
there were over ], 900 newspapers published
in the United States, of which New York,
with ,913 900 inhabitants, had 1893. At
that time there were but so daily newspapers
in this country. In 1920 all the colonies had
but 7 newspapers: in 1910, 359; in 1926,
G40 in 1885, 200, with total population
of 13 900 600. DIR. Leiber asserts that the
United States even at that time 1885 fur
nished more papers than the 100 000, 900
people in all Europe. That is to say, 81
years ago, when Louis Philippe reigncd in
France and William w. in England. Since
that day the progress of the American press
has been the most astonishing feature in the
history of our country. In 1910 the census re-
turned l ,63l newspapers, with yearly issue
of 1875 1913 ,673 copies. In 1850 had 2 500
papers, and yearly issue Of 429 ,409 1913
copies-an average Of nearly % copies to
each man, woman and child, bond and free.
There were then 254 dailies, with an aver
age circulation of 3 200. In 1860 there were,
including monthly and other periodicals, A.
05l, with an average circulation of 927,-
951 ,54S copies. In 1861 the number had
grown to 1888 in the States, and 13 in the
Territories. Over 600 of these were dailies.
The papers of New York average highest in
circulation e AID each issue. Nassachp-
setis comes second. Neyada last, with an
average circulation Of only ZIG. The aver
age circulation of all the daily papers pub
lished in this country is AIT; of the week
lies, ,59S; monthlies. 4,081. The whole
number Of papers issued in 1871 in the
United States and Territories was ,499 ,922,-
219, or ,073 600 900 more than in 1910.
There are but 548 newspapers in the United
States that print more than 5000 copies
each, and and only IL that print 10O, GOO
copies each issue. Among political papers
the Tribune takes the lead in circulation;
among religious ones the independent; and
among agricultural ones, Moore's Rural
Mec Yorker. Since March, 1870, over
l 900 new journals have been started. The
largest number of dailies in any State is SO,
New York being the claimant. Next comes
Pennsylvania with 81; then Illinois with 38,
and then California with 81. In average
yearly circulation to each inhabitant Calor-
MIA comes third on the list with 50; New
York first, with 113, and the District of
Columbia second, with 80. Illinois only
averages to each nbabitant half as many pa
pcrs per year as California. In Texas the
average is but 7, in North Carolina 4 in
Mississippi, Florida and Arkansas, 5; in
West Virginia, s. in old Virginia, 12 In
the Dominion of Canada the average is about
II or 13. The first daily paper in the United
States was the Pennsylvania Packet, sub
sequently called the Daily Advertiser, Of
Philadelphia, established in 1884, and kept
unning till 1897. The first newspaper issued
in the United States was at Boston, Septem-
Der 25th, 1890. 1t was declared contrary
to law, and suppressed by the Colonial Leg
islature. But one number was ever printed,
and the name is not given. The New
England COuram was started by James
Franklin, brother of Benjamin, at Boston,
August 18th, 1921. In this office Benjamin
learned bis craft. and became the publisher
of the paper. In 1854 there were four pa
pers in Boston and two in New York, two
in Philadelphia, and one in Williamsburg,
Virginia. In l776 there were but 81 papers
in all the colonies The oldest paper in
America was the Newport lRhode Island)
Mercury, established June 18th, 1853, and
kept up till june 10th, 1866. This paper
was started by James Franklin. the oldest
brother of Benjamin. 1t was the size of
letter sheet, and contained eight columns
three and balf inches wide and twelve tnch-
es long. R0or Richards Almanac, by
Benjamin franklin, was published in serial
form in the llercury. The paper lived to
the great age of los years.
The first daily paper in England was the
Courdnt, started 1902, with one page Of two
columns. In 17G7 the letters of Junus be-
gan to he published in The Public Adcertiscr.
In 1900 the London Times had only 1000
circulation per day. All the other dailies of
London 1000 AT that time Coleridge,
Soulhey, Charles Lamb and Wordsworth
were regular contributors to the London Daily
Chronicle and Mornihy Post, while at the
same time Fox and Sheridan contributed to
the Times. 1t was in November, 1914, that
the Times applied steam power to its press.
Tlis put tie Times ahead of all rivals In
1915 there were 254 papers published in
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, of
which London had 55-15 of the 55 being
dailies. In 1860 the total number had risen
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