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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1889)
THE WE8T BHORE. 0 ISLAND CITY, OREGON. NE of the most thriving towns of Eastern Oregon i Island City, lying in the beautiful and fertile Grande Ronde valley. Daring its existenoe of nearly sixteen years it has steadily grown in population and business nntil it now contains upwards of three hun dred people and is the commercial point for a wide and highly productive region. To one at all familiar with Eastern Oregon it is sufficient to establish its reputation as a good business point to say that it lies in the heart of the finest portion of the famous Qrande Ronde valley, but to others something more than this is necessary. Island City was first founded in 1874 by Charles Goodnough, who opened a small store at that point and continued in business there for nine years, a town gradually growing up around him. At the end of that time he combined with a number of business men and organized the Island City Mercan tile & Milling Company, whioh has sinoe grown into a most extensive institution. Its original capital stock of $10,000.00 was increased to $75,000.00 in 1885, and it has established branches in the towns of Enterprise, Hilgard and Wallowa. The company did a business of a quarter of a million dollars in 1888, and handled three hundred thousand pounds of wooL Besides two stores, it has five large warehouses in Island City, and is now constructing one forty by one hundred feel It also owns the Island City flouring mill, which manufactures one of the standard brands of Oregon flour. This mill was thoroughly refitted in 1888 and converted into a full roller mill of a daily capacity of one hundred barrels. Connected with the mill is an elevator large enough to hold thirty thou sand bushels of wheat, and in connection with the mill and its shipping business the company handles tha Knlk rvf ttiA nnln nnvW nf that rPcioH. The UU UUIB lS UU ISM a - m officers of the comoanv are. Charles Goodnough pres ident J. M. Church vice president, W. Andrews, sec rptwv. Pirit Nutionul Bank treasurer. Another im- DorUnt institntion ia the First National Bank, which has a capital stock of $50,000 00, a surplus of $10,. 000.00 and undivided nroflta of $15,000.00. The offi- cers are, It M. Bteel president, Charles Goodnough vice president, Charles Crosby cashier. This bank plays a most important part in the financial transac tions of that region and is one of the most prosperous interior banks in Orecon. As an evidence oi uw f- ution hM U T.l.nrl flit with reeard to the agncul tural interests of that portion of the state, the fact that both of the great implement nouses oi ivu.,y, Iinrrftl! A fU Pr.nk Brothers Implement Co. have agencies there Is very suggestive, that of the former being the sole agency for Union and Wallowa counties. Other business enterprises conu - drug store, blacksmith shop, hotel and market Thore is maintained a good publio school, with an attend ance of seventy pupils, and the Catholics have a church. Though there is no vacant sovornmont land in the vicinity of Island City, most inviting opportunities exist for the acquisition of fine farms at a very rea sonable price. When first settled upon the land was taken up in large traota, and the result is that indi vidual owners have been unable to oultivste thnir land. Consequently, muoh of it is for sale at prices ranging from $8.00 to $15.00 per aore for unimproved land. At such prices, the settler who has a little money would do better to purchase first dais land in a community possessing good roads, schools, ohurches and sottled business and social relations, and where good railroad facilities are provided, with an imme diate prospect of others soon, than to seek for gov ernment or other cheap land far removed from all these conveniences, by means of whioh he osn render life enjoyable and his farm immediately productive and profitable. If he have enough money to buy im proved land he will fiod it still more to his advantage to do so. such land being for sale at from fla.00 to $30.00 por aore, the prioe being based chiefly upon its nearness to town and the nature of the Improvements. In the foothills of the mountains, some distanoe from town, land of good quality, a very large portion of which can be cultivated, oan be purchased for $.'1.00 per acre. The products of that portion of the Grande Rondo valley tributary to Island City aro chiefly wheat, whioh yielJs from thirty to fifty bushels per aore; corn, which grows to perfection; hay, of which great quantities are cut with a high average yield per acre; vegetables and root crops of all kinds, which yield abundantly in quantity and are of a most sup, rior quality; and fruit llops have len demon strated to be a auooesiful and profitable crop, and quite a large acreage is now being s4 out, so that this region will soon be as well known as other bop producing centers of the mast Cattle, horses and sheep are important products of the valley and moun. tains, and the wool dip is ery large. Situated In inch a country, within so short a distanoe of the rail road -less than two miles-and possessing such ex tensive business enterprises, Island City has good reason to expect a continuance of Its prosperity and crowth, and la oertaiuly a moat Inviting place In which, or near which, to engage in business snd so. Imt a home. Its business men are full of enterprise and have opened channels of trade that must wntlnue to carry a constantly Increasing volume of trsffla. The town presents a most neat and attractiis appear, uoe and is a pleuant place of rfelJ-nff, fsjwlally M the climate of the valley is dolightf oL
