The Oregon scout., August 15, 1889, Image 2

V
IS SITUATED IN THE
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
Measleri Portion iii i Sta
NOW TO RETURN TO THE
ol lie
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS
MM
Cntf,
BStS
Oil ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF TjAKT).
The valleys are of an average elevation of about 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks being alwut 0,000 feet ami continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams the year louud.
THE CLIMATE
Is dry and healthful, there being a sufficient rainfall to preserve the moisture of the soil and mature
crops. Snow seldom falls to the depth pf one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer then from
two to three weeks at a time.
The mean temperature for the winter months is about 150 degrees above freezing point, and for
the summer months alwut 70 alovo zoro, the heat of the day being offset by cool nights that ensure
refroshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
The winter season usua.Iy begins about the first of December and lasts till the middle of February
or first of March, when tho husbandman 5s given an opportunity to prepare for his springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, tho monotony of warm and dry weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing suficient moisture to tho ground and temperin 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, the weather is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of cropa. Generally
enough rain falls in tin autumn months to moisten the ground sufficiently to permit the farmer to
preparo the same for his fall grain.
Thero is no country in Uio United States more blessed by a healthful climato than Union County,
as the vigor and enterprise of is Citizens will prove.
Tho various contagions provilont in many localities aro almost wholly unknown here, and are
usually very mild in tlieir attacks when thoy do appear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills and fever aro totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and Iho lives of people; nor blizzards to
freeze the 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 1,407,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County : tho rest iB unsurvoyed, tho unaur-
veyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and alxninding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of tho Countv aro Grande Rondo, Indian, North Powder, Uig Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. The
soil in these valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, I'lums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of tho smaller varieties grow to perfection.
Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to tho aero, Barloy from 40 to 70, Oats about tho same
as Barley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to
tho acre. The Mountains aro covored with a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tamraok,
Spruce, etc. The most valuablo is tho Pino, which is used in the lumbering industry, also some of
tho larger species of Tamrac, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sufficient to supply tho surrounding country for ages.
Tlio mineral resources of tho County aro only nartialy developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore interline the mountain sides, which, when
sufficient cupital is employed In their development, will bo a great factor in tho general summary of
f'o wealth of the County. A more detailed uccount of tho Mines and Mineral Resources of the
County will bo found further on.
u
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THE LARGST MOST FERTILE AND ATTRACTIVE VALLEY OF-
Union County is the Famous Grande Ronde
WHOSE BEAUTY IS BECOMING KNOWN
Far and wide, surrounded by lofty mountains upon whlrh seem to rest the blue vault above.
Wherever the eye gazen It cannot help being enchanted hy our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces
!XKJ.i0 acres of as tine Agricultural Land as can ba found on the Pacific Coast.
The Grande Ronde hiver enters its boundary on the West and flows Easterly through the center
of the valley and thence Northerly and out at i a Northern limits; 30x25 miles is iu length and bredth
and with Cathyrlne Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde. entering the valley at the South,
Mill Creek entering at the East ai d Willow O cek enlering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Ronde Val ey one of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named (streams affording abundance of water the feason round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lom wiih clay subsoil, thero being ahmt three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Uldgc, all of which produces excellent grain.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, JJarley, Rye, Timothy, Alf lfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to f 0 bwhels per acre of Wheat 4C 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.
Tin producing an export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Besides the production of grain and hay for export, an Immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prune, fears and smalle fruits, alio garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Che se is also one of our staple products. Stock
ratMng is engaged in largely and profitably; as line stock may bo seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde
Valley as anywhere, stocunien and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on fine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice place can he bought at from $15 to $30 per acre, which is comparatively cheap. Many latge
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality can be bad at very reasonable rales,
which could be divided into several (rood farms.
TIMBER.
The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. But little of the timber lands has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. R. & N. R. R. entering the vallev at the southern portion and following the foothills on the
Southwest, passe out of the valley on the West, traversing the Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of H milts.
The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next year from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through
the Blue Mountaiis to Sunimervi ie, 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 line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of the
Sound in competition fur the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced by the building
of this becond line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde Velley. it cm bo said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is offered anywnere iu the Northwest for the home
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and its vicinity. Tho resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indust let 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 business,
ollering in this line advantages nnt to be found but in very few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a proll table buiness and there is hardl v an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande Ronde Valley nd see it and to Investigate it advantages, is to locate here. In no
instance have people, who have visited this valley givn it other than the bestof reputation in regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a gsod country.
The Grande Ronde 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 COUNTY OREGON
STOCK Xt-AIHITVG..
The Assessment Roll of the County
FOU THK VKAK 1888
SHOWS THAT THERE WERE 91,7tO HEAD OF HORSES,
28,123 HEAD OF CATTLE. 55,565 HEAD OF SHEEP,
And 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of Itself that the County is a great Stock Raising Region. Thou
sands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing U the owners thereof a neat profit on their Invest
ment. In lact. the Htock business has been and Htlll is tho most paying of any In the country and it
bWU fair to continue to be such for many years to come. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening In a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock 1ms
to tm fed hat for from one to two months during the winter, but In many places horses will winter upon
the bunch grass and do well. The climate Is such that sto k rained is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, giving to work horses a strong constitution and powerful muhclo. .....
The mlllr. cow here stUlni perfection. Sheep aro very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. I he
dairying business In the lat few years has developed into a la'ge and profitable one, the country being
specially adapted to tho business by reason of tho milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex
cellent tangs the large quantity of hay and gialn raised per aero, the healthfuluess of animals, the
large waterVupply and the quick market of Butter and Cheese. Tho Jersey. Holatino aud Durham are
rapidly taking the plsce of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attoution
t0 ' U Uwid moreVrotrit can'ba realised per year from a milk cow in this country than any other In the
United States, one instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net protlt to the owner
f 'Twocwamerleaaie In operation at the Cove. In this county, width make 120,(00 pounds of cheese,
worth 14 cents per pound, and 70,00 pounds butter, worth 25 cents per pound, ... .
This year a creamery is iu operation at La Grnde, with what success remains to be seen, although
no doubt can beenterlnlned but that It will prove to he a profitable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining Districts of Union County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia OMrU t is
In the Ksstern portion of the County, and embraces a cectlou about leu miles fcquaro, w Ithin which there
are about COO quarts locations. The formation Is granite and slate; the ledges running In a SoutliearUrly
and Northwesterly direction. Tho flisl locations ere made hen; In lt8t 'Iho quartz contains Gold and
Silver, the gold predominating. Someofthe lodes are free milling, but they generally contain bsse
metal an In consequence wl 1 hae to lm treated in reduction works. Assays have been made ot ore from
the different groups, showing an awrngo yield of from '. to 0 per ton. W hen the pr per niethrds
are employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will b considered the 4"New
inloved
Eldorado of the West."
The Or- gon I
Jold Milling Company, of Townavllle, Ky , Is the only company represented In the dU-
tilct. It has opened up everal of Us ledges, which weie outaineii at irom i,i.uu io f -u.iw cacn.
The lied Jacket, belonging to till, company, Is a well defined ledge, averaging about four feet in
thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, was found to be a mass of the golden metal. Mils
company lias a 4U-Mamp aim running nignt aim uav iui i
sandi live hundred pounds of sulphates were secured the first month of this spring operations, betides
immense quantities of free gold caught upon uie amaigam pans. ...,,. i ,
This company's expenses Iu buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., has amounted to over
tSOO 000. They have the Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,600 feel and shows better as the work
progresses; the Alta No. i, which is developed suftlclently to Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade
lire. The present superintendent. Professor Smith. Is high y pleased with the prospect for his company
i ii..... ..' i. ...... uin.. nf r'n.ii..iiU Man v ntiiitr ledues of the rami) with 100 feel or more
SIIU
... II....
I UlVllllin DCIUIIU IIII.IV. TIIIV. Wl v.ilv.i-l - - J . . n l f .... ...
of development work are showing up well, among which are the biminon group, comprising w e ivey-
.... .... k t" II ti it.. Ol .aik f rt 1st t ssttl tmiwl katfl tn Its fill llllsll
stone. unecKinate, umpire ami uucseye, an siiuauru an n o omimim. ............. ......
group of mines In the camp, so the lllue Hell, Little Casine and Mtmto ChrMo, situated on the n ine
mountain and extensions of the Simmons ledges, showing samegrade and character of pre. The ay
Up. northeast of Cornucopia, allows some of the richest ore pi any in can p aim i n uuum ... niiii
of the lllue Hell and Simmons group. The Union Companion, Ust Chan e. 1 obert hi"el. f
Queen. Hed Hoy. May Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross. The Steen group, Stella, Tiger Hoy. Climax
and Queen of the Went are all suftlclently developed to show them to be good ledges and contain paying
or In great quantities. The Comucopli or Pino Creek district Is 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 the riche.t
The Sanger mines aro unrated by a San Francisco Company, which began IU operations , two ears
ago. buying the ledges for 17,0CO and now cleaning up on an average of $70,000 per month. Thenr
mUies are Sn the roid between Union ami Cornucopia. aWa) miles east of Union, having a tn-weeklr
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with Union, their trad.
,MK'KenHparU mines are about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding large returns. The Sparfa mines aro mostly placer, but quite a numim- of
ledges have lately beeu found which, as fsr as rfevelopeu, Indicate good paying ore. A mill Is Iwlng
built hern and good returns are expected from its work.
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UNION,
THE COUNTY SEAT OF UNION COUNTY,
IS SITUATED IN THE
ux mourn. f.HCf r eyes sro walcniUK to take nUvautuKu ol the present low orlces lu urouurtv and
es a home where they may live iu peace and pleuty. Water wonts euu lm put hi ut very little ex
art of Cutlioriuu creek into u UrRe reservoir ou the hilt back of towu. This will kIvu all the tali
.'et up: no exuellsu of keeolui; u steam nuinn ami t!in nciVMrnrv r.'iniIrM TliU iiwiimialo .twim
Southern Portion of the Fertile Grande Ronde Valley,
AND HAS THE BEST NATURAL LOCATION
Kor a City of any towu iu Eastern Oregon. Silunteo, Just at the base of rolling hills ou both sides of Catuerl uo Creek,
a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters are pure as uature ever distilled and held suspended In her mouutaiu res
ervoirs, furuishiug immuuse waterpowcr just waiting to be utilized by the haud of mau for all kinds of manufactur
ing industries. Iu act the water power Is amply sutllcleut to make Union the lxwollof Oregon if the attention of her
enterprising citizens were turned iu that direction, which will be the case when new blood sud Kastem capitalists
come Iu. This is ouo of the best places in Oregon for the erection of mauufacturles.
A woolen mill is greatly needed now, and some euergetic capitalist who is engaged iu such business would rind
here the chuseu spot for such an enterprise, right In the heart of a great wool-growing teetlou of the country. No
high freights to pay, water-power In abundance, aud Iu fact ever) thing that such a business would consume is pro
duced here iu the valley.
The iirescut population of Union is about' 1,'JOO, but when the O A W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her
population insiue oi i
procure tor themselv
peuse by running a i
w e waut - from 1M U
cau be; made to run directly iuto tho reservoir aud all the waste cau be utilized iu furuishiug power for machinery.
M lieu once waterworks are completed there will be uo need for wells, springs, etc., for uo purer urlukiug water eau be
found,
Our school facilities aro unsurpassed. We havo in our public school, a High School Grade. The school is supplied
with every possible convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal handed eitizeus, who believe iu giving their
children a tlrst-class education aud that they can be educated In uo better way than by having a No. 1 bcuool at home.
The school at present U divided iuto four compartments, all thoroughly graded, btudeuts on completing the pre
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that cUect, Au addition to the pieseut sehool building is iu coutempla
tlou, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments Is soon td be added.
Morally aud socially, Union is unexcelled and her hospitality is widely known throughout the surrouudlng coun
try. We have four churches, all iu a flourishing condition. There arc six secret societies, dolug much good to hu
manity. We have a number of stores of different Winds, all dolug a prorltable busiuess. as they supply a great agricul
tural district and the numerous mining camps iu the uear vieluity. We are also supplied with several saloons, bar
IsTshops, blacksmlthshops, etc. Oue prluclpal hotel aud several restaurants, so that Hie most fastidious tastes of tho
epieuriau eau be fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two tlrst-class livery aud feed stables to that strangers
coming to this towu will have no trouble In procuring a tlrst-class team aud taking a drive out iuto the exhillerating
atmosphfrc aud feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mouutaiu scenery, aud breathing iu the life-giving exygeu
that cau be found nowhere so pure as iu Uniou t'ounty. To the Kastener, who is not used to mountain kccuery, when
llrst beholdlugour beautiful location, his tirst aud involuntary exclamation Is, "Paradise Found at Last."
Our eouuty Court House is well tluished lu every particular, having s large and commodious hall, amply suflieieut
to accommodate any aud all audieuces. It also has lu connection a Jail built by the Pauley Hros., with ill their latest
iniproveed cells, thus makiug things owoure agaiuht the escape of any prisoners that may bo routined thsreiu, Our
Opera House is oue of the largest this side ot Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains and tluished lu superb
style. One large aud commodious Flouring Mill, full roller Process, with all modern implements, is situated adjoin
ing thetown. Also several saw mills lu the near vicinity. The lumberlug luterest is bound to liecoiuc quite a fea
ture iu our iudustrles.
Taken all lu all, Union is oue of the best towns lu Kastem Oregon. Heretofore she has been kept back ou account
of poor railroad facilities, bul wheh the Hunt Hystem of Kallroad is completed into Unlou, Its latent resources will bo
de eloped and It will take Its place among the thriving citiet of our land. We have one of the loveliest towns iu
Orvgou, and a great deal of wealth Is here already. All that Ii now needed is for people to come aud take advantage
of the great inducements soou to be throwu at the feet of every energetic man isiasesslug either brains or muscle.
The pleasure-seeker or tho iuvalld cau tiud uo better place to while away the summer mouths. Only three miles
away cau bo found Hot Spriugs sud l.nkes reveliug iu medical virtues aud curative powers the fHtnous "Kausas Hot
Siiriugs,'' Kheumatlsm aud such complaints disappearing as if by the haud of some matriclsu. Ixivcrs ot the nUcHinrUl
art will flud the beauslful sparkling w aters of Catherine creek alive w 1th the gamy mouutaiu auil brook trout. Iu tho
edge of the mountains largergame may bo found, while out iu the valley along the Oraude Konde river are geese
swau and ducks In abuudanee. lu the the grstu Held prairie chickens are quite pleutlful. Taking all these natural
advantages for pleasure aud business, we think people lookiug lor a home cau tiud no place siippIx ing all Ihelr wauti
letter thau the beautiful city uf I'uluu.
Muce I he much lalked of lluut Kallrosd it an assured fait, property is beglnulag to advance In prlcet, though at
the present time city lots aud blocks may be had at very reasonable rates. ' 8
. , V.1' H.ulou Kfl KstittY Association uow has lu its possession tracts of laud suitable for srual farms, or they could
Im- laid oirmto blocks. Ibis association has started iu ou a Mr in basis, haviug wltblu its power the menus of haudlinir
property to U'ttlcr advantage thau auy firm in L'ulou County. They already hae numerous tracts adjoinlug the
city; farms, blocks, lots, etc., to be sold ou very reasonable terms or for cash.
Parties dcairing information of Union County, can do uo better than to interview or address tho
managers of this association,
WILSON fc HACKETT,
Who will cheerfully furnish them with all the information deaired.