The increase in the number of newspapers in Wisconsin's largest cities from 1840 to 1860 was analyzed to determine whether the coming of the telegraph (1848-1850) spurred newspaper growth significantly. Multiple regression analysis was used to control for the effects of population growth and price-level fluctuations. Even after accounting for the effects of these two variables, it was found that the telegraph had a significant impact on newspaper growth. One of the explanations for this association between increased telegraph and newspaper use is that the people in Wisconsin became more willing to buy papers once they could receive distant news relatively quickly. (RL)