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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 1890)
UNION COUNTY OREGON IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE AND COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND. The vulleys tire of nn average elevation of about 2,(XM) feet alwve sea level, the highest mountain peaks being alwut 0,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for ' numerous streams the year round. THE CLIMATE Is dry aiid'healthful, thero being a sufficient rainfall to preserve the moisture of the Boil and mature crops. Snov seldom falls to the depth of one foot, in the valleys, and never remains Ioniser than from two to thrco weeks at a time. Tho mean temperature for tho winter months is alout -0 degrees alwve freezing point, and for the summer months about 70 alovo zoro, the heat of tdie day being offset by cool nights that ensure refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued Tho winter season usua.ly begins about the first of December and lasts till the middle of February or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for his springs seeding. From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm and dry weather is broken by frequent showers of rain furnishing suficient moisture to the ground and tempering the atmosphere so as to assure the farmer an abundant yield. During the months of July, August and September., which are the harvesting months in this county, tho woathor is usualy dry and adapted to tho successful gathering of cropB. Generally enough rain falls in the autumn months to moisten the ground sufficiently to permit the farmer to prepare the same for his fall grain. There is no country in tho United States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County, as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove. The various contagions prevalent in many localities are almost wholly unknown here, and are usually very mild in their attacks when they do appear. Thero has only been one case of Smallpox in Union County since its settlement, and chills and lever aro totally unknown. We have no tornadoes or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and the lives of people nor blizzards to freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West of the Cascade Mountains. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. Thero is 1,45)7,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in tho County j the rest is unsurveyed, the unsur voyed portion being valuable for Timber, l'usture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. Tho valleys of tho County aro Grande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. The soil in those valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Barloy, Rye, Timothy, Clover and Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, j'lums, Pears, Poaches, Cherries, strawberries, and in fact all of tho smaller varieties grow to perfection. The yield of Wheat is from 'lb to r0 biiBhols to tho acre, Barloy from 40 to 70, Oats alout the same as Barley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bubbels of oats has been raised to tho acre. Tho Mountains are covored with a Kino Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tamrack, Spruco, etc. Tho most valuable' is tho Pine, which is used in the lumbering industry, also some of the larger species of Tamrae, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which is amply sufficient to supply the surrounding country for ages. Tlie mineral resources of tjie County are only imrtialy developed, but sufficient prospecting and mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore interline the mountain sides, which, when sufficient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tho general summary of t'o wealth of the County. A more dotailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of tho County will be found further on. stock rtvisirvo. The assessment roll of the county tor the year 1HK8, shows that there were 21.740 liead of horses, 158,12.1 Hend of Cnttlo, 5T,ftl5 Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of Itself that the County Ih a great Slock Raising Region. Thousands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners thereof a neat profit on vholr Investment. In fact, the stock business lias been and still Is tho most paying of any in the country and it bids fair to continue to bo such for many years to come. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and mountains is very nutritious, stock (attuning in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock his to he fed bar for from one to two mouths during the winter, hut in manv places horses will winter upon the bunch grass and do well. The climate Is such that Hto -k raised is of u hardy and healthful charac ter, nlvingjo work horses a strong constitution and powerful musclu. Tim milk cow here attains perfection. Slieep are very healthy and produce heavy tleeces. The dairying business In tho last few years has developed Into a largo and profitable one, tho country being specially avaptcu to iiiu oumiicss dv rciiHon ui win iiiiik prumicuiK iiuuuuu ui ine.nisHeH ami mo ex collunt lange, the largo quantity or nay and g'aln raised per acre, tl In tint limiiHui? of I lull r cows. It Is -aid more profit can In realized per year from a milk cow In this country than any other in the United Suites, one Instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net profit to the owner of ?I7" liesldes the calf Tw.MTeaineries are In operation at the Cove, In this county, whl'h make l'JO.COu pounds of cheese, worth 1 1 cents per pound, and 7B.W0 Munds butter, worth 2S cents per pmind. This year a creamery is in operation at La Grndu, with what success remains to he seen, although no doubt can bo entertained but that It will prove to be a profitable concern. ITS MINING RESOURCES. The Mining Districts of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is in the KMtern portion of the County, and enibrac.'s a section about ten milcx Kjuare, within which there are about (UK) qunrt. locations. The formal ion In granite and slate; the ledges running in a Southearturly aud Northwesterly direction. Tho first locations were made here in 1881. The quartz contains Gold and Sliver, the gold predominating. Some of the lodes are free milling, but they generally contain base metal an In consequence win navo io no treated in rouueuon worus. assays nave Keen made or ore from te hcalthfulness of animals, the irsey. Holsllne and Durham are common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention largo water supply and thu quick market of Hut tor and Cheese. Tho Jersey, Holsllne and Durham are rapidly taking the place of thocc the liillVrotiL groups, showing an average yield of from fi to $1' 0 per ton. When tho proper methrds are employed to worn inoso lodges to mi 'Eldorado of the West.' ho best advantage, Cornucopia will bo considered the New The Or gon Gold Mining Company, of LouUvllle, Ky , is the only company represented in the dis trict. It has opened upevoral of tl ledges, which weie obtained at from jjlU.COO to !?2l),(M() each. The lied Jacket, belonging to lliln company, is a 'tell defined ledge, averaging about four feet in thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, wan found to he a maHs of the golden metal. This company has a 4()-8tamp Mill running night and day upon tho ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou sand live hundred pound of sulphurets were secured the first month of this spring's operations, behides immense quantities of free gold caught upon the amalgam pans. This company's expenses In buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., has amounted to over 81(01) 0 0. They have the Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,500 feut and shows better as tho work progresses; tho Alta No. 2, which is developed sufilciently to Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade ore. The present superintendent. Professor Smith, Is highly pleased with tho prospect for his company and predicts a second Leadvilloof Cornucopia. Many other ledges of the camp with 100 feet or more of development work are showing up well, among which are tho Simmons grrup, comprising the Key stone, Qheckma'e, Umpire and Huckojo, all situated on the Simmons Mountain and Mild to be the host group of mines In the camp, Iho the llluo Hell, Little Casino and Monte Chrl-to, situated on the fame mountain and extensions of the Slmiuons ledges, showing same grade and character of ore. Tho Vy Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of the rlche-t ore of any In camp and U no doubt an extension of the llluo Hell and Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Kobert Emmet, Forest Queen, Hed Hoy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Bed Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Hoy, Climax and Queen of tho Wont are all sufilciently developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying ore in gnat quantities. Tho Cornucopia or Pine Creek district h a rich one with an unlimited amount of ore and only lacks capital to prove Its wonderful richness. It is destined to be one of tho richest camps in existence. The Sanger mines are operated by a San Francisco Company, which began its operations two vears ago, buying the ledges for S 17,01 0 and now cleaning up on an average of 870,000 per month. These mines am on the roail between Union and Cornucopia, alwut HI miles east of Union, having a tn-weokly mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus Ivolng placed In direct communication with Union, their trail ing l Mil nt. The Sparta mines are almut. eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past twenty years, still yielding large returns. Tho Sparta mines are mostly placer, hut quite a numlierof lodges have lately been found which, as fur as developed, indicate good pa) lug ore. A mill Is being built hero and good returns aro expected from its work. u N I O N C O U N T Y O R E G O N AGRICULTURAL I TV TEH ETS. Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive Valley of Union County, Is the Famous Grande Konde, whose beauty Is lecoining known far and wide, surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vult above. Wherever the eje gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces 300,1X0 acres of as fine Agricultural Land as can b found on the Pacific Const. The Grande Ronde HI ver enters lis boundary on the West and Hows Easterly through the center of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at its Northern llmlta; :50xl!5 miles is its length and breath and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valle at the South, Mill Creek entering at the East-and Willow Creek entering at tho North, with numerous other small tributaries, make the Grande Ronde Val'ey one of the best watered vallejs in Oregon, all of the above named streams affording abundance of water the cason rourd. The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lom with clay subsoil, there being avout three Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellent grain. The yield of Wheat, Oats, Uarlpy. Rye, Timothv, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding from 25 to 50 butdieN per acre of Wheat 40 to 100 for Oats and Barley, and Hay from 2 to 8 tons per acre; frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut In one season. PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS. Th producing and export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each year. Besides the production of giain and hay for export, an immense quantity of fruits, including Ap ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and smade fruits, also garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheese is also one of our staple products. Stock raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde Valley as anywhere, stockmen and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur poses. Taxes are no higher on fine than poor stock. The lauds of this valley have all been taken, but choice places can he bought at from 815 to $30 per acre, which is comparatively cheap. Many large bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality can be had at very reasonable rates, which could be divided into several crood farms. TIMBER. The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and easily reached. Hut little of the timber laud has been entered or taken up RAILROAD FACILITIES. The O. R. & N. R. R. entering the valley at the southern portion and following the foothills on the Southwest, passes out of the valley on the West, traversing the Southwestern boundary of the valley for a distance of 14 miles. The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next year from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through the Blue Mouutans to Summerville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse the en tire length of the valley through its center to Union. Upon the building of this road the valley will have the best railroad facilities. Puget Sound, W. T., Is tho terminal point of this Hue, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of tho Soendln competition fur the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced by the building of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde Valley, it can' be caid with out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity Is offered any wrere in the Northwest for tho home seeker or capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and its tributary sections will sustain manufacturing industiies of nearly every kind, of which we now have but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the farming and dairying t.uslness. ottering in this line advantages not to be found hut in very few places. The raising of thorough bred stock is a profitable business and there is hardly an individual here solely in that business at present. To visit Grande Ronde Valley and see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no in stance have people, who have visited this valley given it other than the best of reputation in regard to climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a g)od country. Tho Grande Rondo Valley-has 'several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end of the valley, La Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest Summerville In the northern end of the valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Elgin in the extreme northern part of the valley. UNION, The County Seat ot Union County, Is situated lu the southern portiou of the Fertile ttraude Komlo Valley, Hint has the best Natural Locution for n City of any town lu Eastern Oregon. Situated, just at the base of rolling hills on both sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held suspended in her mountain reservoirs, fumishiug immenso waterpower just waiting to be utilized by the hand of man for all kinds of manufacturing Industries. In fact tho water power is amply sutllcient to make Union the Lowell of Oregon if the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will be tho case when new blood and Eastern capitalists come in. This Is oue of tho best places In oregou for the erection of mauiifacturles. A woolen mill Is greatly needed uows and soie energetic capitalist who Is engaged is such business would And hero the chosen spot for such an enterprise, right in the heart of a groat wool-growing section of the country. No high freights to pay, water-power In abundance, and iu fact ever) thing that such a business would consume Is pro dnced here iu tho valley. Tho present population of Union Is about 1,HX), but when the 0. A V. T. railroad reaches here sho will double her population inside of six months, Kager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low price In property and procure for themselves a homo where they may live In peace and plenty. Water works can be put in at very little ex pense by running apart of Catherine creek Into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all the fall o want from 1J0 feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump and tho necessary repairs. This mountain stream can be; made to run directly into the reservoir and all tho waste can be utilized iu furnishing power for machinery When oueo waterworks aro completed there will be uo need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can be found. Our school facilities are unsurpassed. Wo have lu our public school, a High School Grade. The school is supplied with every vosslble convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, wno believe in giving their children a tlrst-cjaas education and that they can be educated lu uo better way than by having a No. 1 School at home The school at present Is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded, Students on completing tho jire scribed courso of study receive a certificate to that ellect. An addition to the piesent school building is iu contempla tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments Is soon to be added. Morally and socially, Union is unexcelled and her hospitality Is widely known throughout tho surrounding coun try. Wo have four churches, all lu a nourishing condition. Thero aro six secret societies, doing much good to hu manity. Wo have a number of stores of different kinds, all doing a profitable business, us they supply a great agricul tural district and tho numerous mining camps lu the near vicinity. We are also supplied with several saloons, bar bershops, hlacksmithshops, etc , one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that tho most fastidious tastes of tho eplcurfan can bo fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two first-class livery and feed stables so that strangers coming to this town will have uo trouble iu procuring a first-class team and taking a drive out Into tho exhilleratlne atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain scenery, and bieathiug iu the life glvlag exygeu that can Is) found now hero so pure as lu Union Comity. Totlu- Eastenv, who is not used to mountain scenery, w'heu finst beholdlugour beautiful Uxwtion, his first and involuntary exclamation is, "laradlse Found at Last." Our county Court House Is well finished iu every particular, having a large ami commodious hall, amply sufficient to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has lu connection a jail built by the 1'uuley llros., with ill their latest improveed cells, thus nuking things secure agaln-flbe escape of any prisoners that may bo confined therein. Our Opera House Is one of thf largest this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains and finished iu suierb style. One large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller proce.-, with all modern improvements, is situated adjoin ing the town. Also several saw mills lu tho near vicinity. The lumbering Interest is bound to become quite a fea ture in our Industries. Taken all in all, Union is ono of tho best towns lu Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has been kept back ou account of poor railroad facilities, but when the Hunt System of ltatlroad Is completed into Union, Its latent resources will be developed uud It will tako Its place among tho thriving cities of our laud. We havo one of tho loveliest towns in Oregon, and a great deal of wealth Is hero already All that is now needed is for people to come and take advantage of the great inducements soon to lie thrown at the feet of every energetic mau possessing either brains or muscle. Tho pleasure-seeker or tho invalid can find no better place to while away the summer months. Only three miles away can bo found Hot Springs and hakes reveling In medical virtues and curative powers tho famous "Kansas Hot Springs," Hhemnatlsm and such complaints disappearing as If by tho haud of some magician. Lovers of the piscatorial art will find the bcauaitul sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with tho gamy mountain and brook trout. In tho edge of the mountains largergamo may In) found, while out in tho valley along the Grande Hondo river are geese swan and ducks in abundance, lu tho tho grain field prairie chickens are quite plentiful. Taking all these natural advantages for pleasure ami business, wo thiuk people looking for a homo can find uo place tupplviug all their wauu better than the beautiful city of Union. Since tho much talked of Hunt Kallroad Is au assured fact, property is beginning to advance in prices, though at tho present time city lets and blocks may be bad at very reasonable rates. THE UNION REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION Now has in its possession tracts of land suitable for small farms, or they could be laid off into blocks. This asso ciation has started in on a firm basis, having within its power the means of handling property to a better advantage than any firm in Union County. They already have numerous tracts adjoining the city; farms, loc, etc., to be sold on very reasonable terms or for cash. Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the managers of this ftcnrintinn. WILSON & HACKETT Who will cheerfully furnish them with all (he Information desirod. tjivioiv, oregoi,