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