The west shore., January 01, 1885, Page 24, Image 24

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THE WEST SHORE-
largest, richest and most inviting in the West; that, com
pared to its extent and capabilities, its population is
small, and that it is capable of supporting a popnlntion
many times greater than it at present has; that many
thousand homos are only waiting to be claimed by those
who will take them; that it has many natural advantages
which the counties adjoining it do not possess; and that
one may find within its boundaries health, wealth ard
such a climate as will insure long lifo and continual hap
piness. The inducements held out by Union County are
attracting hundreds of families, and it will not be long
bofore the best lands will be settled and brought under
cultivation.
. A resident of the county, well informed, thus speaks
on the subject of the opportunities for settlers: "Not
withstanding the considerable extent of country settled
upon in Union County the last few years, there is still
room for many thousand more settlors on good Govern
ment land. I am assured by porsons of credibility that
there is quite a large tract of country lying botween the
settlement of Wallowa and Snake River, and I know
there are many gxxl claims yet vacant in the Lower
Towdor Rivor country, as well as other localities, while
all through the low mountains of the county thore are
many open places of splendid Boil, water and grass, where
some day, in the near future, Btrong Brms and stout
hearts will make comfortable and happy homes. Those
places can be improved much cheaper and quicker than
lands more remote from timlwr, and I think very much
of this character of land is especially adapted to the
growth of fruit and hops, as fruit trees are much less
hablo to winter kill, and the fruit not so subject to
damage by the frosts of spring, as the lands of the val
leys. It is unfortunate for Grando Ronde Valley that so
much of the land here is owned in large tracts by specu
lators, who do not attompt to improve it, but hold it ot so
high a figure as to virtually put it out of the market
Land monopoly is the very worst incubus the country
generally has to contend with. Of course, a man has a
right to hold his land as high as ho pleases, or to refuse
to sell at all, but it would be much more to the interest
of our Bchixds, and roads especially, if all the lands were
settled and improvod."
Tho manufacturing industries of the county are quite
considerable, and are constantly increasing. First in
imMrtaneo, becauso first in necessity, stand the lumber
and (louring mills. Of the former thore are now eighteen
running in the county, with au average capacity of 10,000
f.wt daily. Tho output from these mills equals a quan
tity of lumber sufficient for the erection of a largo house
and Ixiru and for fencing a KJO-acre tract of land every
lay, ami still have lumber to spare. There is an increas
ing demaud for lomlwr among the farmers, who are daily
making very creditable progress in tho improvement of
their forms. The lumbering interest of this couuty, even
now, is ouly in its infaucy. There are eight flouring
mills iu the oouuty, all kept runuing to tboir full capa
city. This industry, like that of the lumberman, has
received new impetus upou the oompletiou of the rail-
road. Flour made from Union County wheat now finds
a market in all quarters. To these important industries
mny be added quite a list of smnller manufactories, which
are being carried on in the county, and which are of
incalculable value in supplying at homo what people of
many other localities have to send away for; in furnish
ing a variety of employment; and, above all, in keeping
money at home to enter into active use in other lines of
business, which would otherwise be sent out of the county
altogether. There are two tanneries one at the Cove
and tho other at Union both of which turn out a very
good article of leather. The manufacture of lime is car
ried on to quite an extent, but principally at the Big
Creek kiln, where an inexhaustible supply of lime rock,
easily quarried, is found, and within convenient distance
of wood. The lime from this kiln is used all over Union
and Raker counties, and even in Idaho, the quality being
equal to the best that is found anywhere. The facilities
for making brick are excellent, and the industry is car
ried on to the same extent that the demands of the
couuty may require. In Union there is a chain pump
factory; also machinery for the manufacture of continu
ous concrete water pipe, di ain tiles and flues. All over
the county may be found carpenter, blacksmith and
coopor shops, planing and Bhingle mills, while both in
La Grande and Union the manufacture of furniture is
extensively carried on. All are kept busy in supplying
the domands of a rapidly increasing population. A soap
factory at La Grande, although but recently established,
is sending out a considerable quantity of an excellent
article of soap. In two different places in the county the
manufacture of cheese is made an exclusive business
one in the Wallowa and the other in the Cove. In both
places the buildings hnve been fitted up for the express
purpose. The Cove factory turned out during the past
season an immense quantity of cheese, supplying nearly
the whole upper country, besides tho home demand. The
Cove is also the recognized fruit store house of this sec
tion. Two fruit dryers are run, and the necessity for
sending away for dried fruits is thus very materially les
sened Hop growing has recently been experimented
upon with results highly satisfactory, and the industry is
certain to become an important one in this county. There
are many other industries which it is needless to dwell
upon at this time. This is simply a showing of what
this comparatively new county is doing. To what extent
manufacturing industries may increase it is impossible to
conjecture. All the raw materials which Nature can
give have been lavished here, with abundant water power
to turn them to man's use.
That Union County will become of great importance
as a manufacturing centre is without doubt, as no place
on the Pacifio Slope offers superior inducements -for the
investment of capital in the various industries, and that
the capital will come we have no reason to doubt, when
the county becomes better known. One of the best in
ducemenU to outside capital is for the citizens them
wives to show their faith in tho future of the county by
establishing enterprise of their own, however small