Scope and ContentTwo typed pages transcribing an account of a Douglas Free Press story about the growth of Saugatuck and Douglas as reported in the Sept 9, 1871 Lake Shore Commercial newspaper. Transcript: Saugatuck—oldays Jan 9 [Handwritten note] Detroit Free Press Saugatuck and Douglas Shrink Growth since news story of 1871 It is an old story that communities in their youth have the great visions of the future. The residents view the advantages nature has so generously bestowed upon the area and predict great things. However, these great things seldom come to pass usually because the men and women do not use nature's benefits. Saugatuck and Douglas have grown in some respects to the two villages as they were in 1871, and in others they have had considerable shrinkage. In the Lake Shore Commercial of Sept. 9, 1871, the following article from the Detroit Free Press was printed: The villages of Saugatuck and Douglas near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River bid fair to rank with the best shipping ports on Lake Michigan. Nature has done much for them in the way of raising sheltering hills that protect their harbor from storms, and the general government an expenditure of $100,000, has supplemented this in clearing and dredging until it is safe to say that not a single harbor on Lake Michigan surpasses that at the mouth of the Kalamazoo. Saugatuck has a population of 1,500 and has seven stores, two hotels and two churches. Douglas has four stores, one hotel and one church. Both places have good union schools with competent teachers, and the usual number of machine shops, five saw mills the lowest capacity of each being 7,000,000 feet per annum, seven shingle mills that produce 21,000,000 of shingles and five lath mills that bundle up 15,000,000 of lath and export them. A stave factory that turns out complete every day the requisite materials for 3,000 flour barrels is one of the wonders of the place. A sash factory and three tanneries of large capacity complete the record of the manufacturing enterprises. There is another industrial interest, the income of which is no small item in the property of Saugatuck. Six fishing establishments are located here. Last season they caught 375 tons of white fish and trout and a large amount of fish of less commercial importance but of ready sale. These hardy fishermen from the prolific waters of Lake Michigan draw daily harvests the income of which they devote largely to the improvement of the town. For the cultivation of fruit this region has proved itself to be equal of any of the famed fruit lands of Michigan. First rate uncleared orchard rate fruit lands can be bought from $5 to $20 per acre, the timber on the land being in most cases sufficient to pay for the clearing and fancing [fencing?], besides going as well on toward paying a share of the original cost and erectly suitable farm buildings. With facilities for reaching the markets of three States, a healthy climate and a temperature the most favored anywhere north of Mason's and Dixon’s line, no person in search of a place to settle can do better than purchase a homestead here.