UNION
COUNTY
0EE60N ,
1
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
A1VD
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND,
The vail cvs are of nn nvcrngc elevation of about 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks being nliotit (i,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams the year round.
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 tho depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer than from
two to threo weeks at a time. ,t
Tho mean temperature for tho winter months is about 120 degrees above freezing point, and for
tho summer months about 70 above zero, the heat of tho day being offset by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for tho fatigued
The winter season usually begins about tho first of December and lasts till tho 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 assuro 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 crops. Generally
enough rain falls in thu 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 the vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The various contagions prevalent in many localities aro almost wholly unknown here, and are
usually very mild in their attacks when thev do appear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in
Union" County since its settlement, and chills and fever are totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes
or Hurricanes to Jay waste tlio country, destroy property and tho lives ot people, nor buzzards to
freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do wo have the fogy and damp atmosphere which in found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1,407,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County ; the rest is unsurveyed, tho tinsur
veyed imrtion being valuablo for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits; The valleys
of tho County are Grando Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pine and Starkoy. The
soil in these valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, bucIi as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of the smaller varieties grow to'pertection.
The yield of Wheat is from 2o to HO bushels to the aero, Barloy from 40 to 70, Oats about tho same
as Barley, with exceptions in somo localities, when as high as 100 bu&hels of oats has been raised to
the acre. Tho Mountains aro covered with a Fino Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tainrack,
Spruce, etc. Tho most valuable is tho Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
tho larger species of Tiunrae, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is am
nply sufficient to supply tho surrounding country for ages.
'l lie l
mineral resources of theCountv aro onlv partial v developed, but sufficient prospecting and
miniiiL' has been done to move that L'reat ledL'es'of ore interline tho mountain sides, which, when
sufficient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great fuctor in the general summary of
V'o wealth of the County. A more detailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of tho
County will be found further on.
STOCK JYISIINO.
Tim assessment roll of thu county tor tho venr 1888, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
28,12.1 Head of dittlo. G.r.rt)5 Head of Sheep, and l),!570 Head of Swine, showing of itself that the County
Is s groat Stock liaising Hogion. Thousands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof a neat prollt on their Investment.
In fuel, thu stock busluesK lias been and still Is the most paying of any in tho country and it
bids fair to contlnuo to be such for many years to conio. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountain is very nutritious, stock fattuiiing in n very short tlmo. ready for market. Usually stock has
to be fed hat for from onu to two months during the winter, but In many places horses' will winter upon
tho bunch grass and do veil. The climate Is mich that sto k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, idving to work horses a strong constitution and powerful muscle.
Til's milk cow hero attains perfection. Sheep aro very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. Tho
dairying business In tho hut few years has developed into a largo and profitable one, I lie country being
specially adapted to the business by reason of the milk producing qualities of the grasses and tKe ex
cellent lange, the largo quantity of hay and gialn raised per acre, tho healthfulness of animals', tho
largo water supply and ttiooulek market of Butter and Cheese. The Jersey, llolstinu mid Durham are
rapidly taki g tho phico of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention
to the hn edi g of their cows.
It Is sai i more profit can bs realized per yenr from a milk cow In this rountry than any other In the
United S e'en, onu instance being given of a single cow for onu year, yielding a net profit to tho owner
of $175 bennies tho calf.
Two i n nineties aie In operation at the Cove, In this county, whi'h make 12ii,((ti) pounds of cheese,
worth 1 t.eeiits per pound, and 7o,tX 0 pounds butter, worth 25 cents per pi und.
This year a ereauii ry is in operation at I.a Gmido, witli what success remains to be seen, although
no doubl can lie entertained hut that it will prove ta he a profitable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
Tho Mining Dlstilets of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In tho Unsleiu portion of the County, and embraces a section about ten miles i-qunro, within which there
aro about (100 qurt. locations. The formation is granite and slate; the ledges running in a Southcartcrly
and Northwesterly direction. The first locutions were made here in 188-1. The quartz contains Gold and
Silver, thu gold predominating. Some of tho lodes are free milling, hut they guucrally contain base
mutnl mi In consequence will have to ho treated in reduction works. Assajs have been made of ore from
tho dillWent grimus, showing an average yield of from 25 to $1 u per ton. When the proper methrds
are employed to work thesu ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will ho considered tho New
"Kldoradoof the West."
Tho Or- gon Gold Mining Company, of Louisville, Ky , is thu only company represented in the dis
trict. It has opened upovoral of lis ledges, which woio obtained at from SMO.tlOO to ?2l),('(X) each.
Tho Bed. laeket, belonging to this company, is a well defined leilge. averaging about four feet in
thickness and when struck on tho lowest tunnel, wus found to bo a mass of the golden metal. This
company has a 40 Stniup Alill running night and day upon tho oru taken from this ledge. Seven thou
sand live hundred pounds ofsulphurets were secured the first month of this spring's operations, bubbles
immense qiiantltlct of free jiold caught upon tho amalgam pans.
This company's expenses in buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., ha amounted to over
8H00 0 They liavo ilio Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,500 feet and shows better as tho. work
progresses; thu Alta No. 2, which Is developed sulllcicntly to indicate a well defined ledge of high grade
ore. Tho present superintendent. Professor Smith, Is hluhly pleased with tho prospect for his company
and predicts a second Leadvllloof Cornucopia. Many other ledges of tho camp with 100 feet or more
of development work are showing up well, among which aro tho Simmons group, comprising tho Key
stone, Cheeknm'e, Kinplru und Buckeye, all situated on thu Simmons Mountain and Mild to bo tho best
group of mines in tho camp, slso the Blue Bell, Little Casino and Monto Chri-to, situated on the Mime
mountain and extensions of tho Simmons ledges, showing same grade and character of ore. The Way
Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of tho richest ore of any in camp and is no doubt an extension
of tho Blue Bell and Simmons group. Tho Union, Companion, Last Cham e, ltobert Kiuiuot, Forest
(Jueen, Bed Boy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Bed Cross, Stocn groupe, Stella, Tiger Boy, Climax
and Queen of tho West are all sulficleiitly developed to show them to bo good ledges und contain paying
oro In great quantities, Thu Cornucopia or Pine 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 onu of thu richest
camps in existence.
Tho Sanger mines aro operated by a San Francisco Company, which began its operations two years
ago, buying tho ledges for 17,011) and now cleaning up on an averaae of 870,1X0 per mouth. Thuo
mines are on tho road between Union and Cornucopia, uboutil) miles east of Union, having a tri-weekly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus Mug placed in direct communication with Union, their trad
ing point.
Thu Sparta mines aro about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding Inrgn returns. Tho Sparta mines aro mostly placer, but quite a number of
lodges have lately been found which, as fur ns developed, Indicate good paying ore. A mill Is being
built here und good returns aro expected from its work.
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AGRICULTURAL mTERESTS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Larzest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Boude, whose beauty is recomitig known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vault above. Wherever tho eye
gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces liCu.Otu acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as can b" found on the Pacific Const.
The Grande Bonde River enters Its boundary on the West and flows Easterly through the center
of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at I s Northern limits; 150x25 miles is its length and bredth
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of tho Grande Bonde entering tho valley at the South,
Mill Creek entering at tho Fast and Willow Creek entering at the North, witli numerous other small
tributaries, make tho Grande Bonde Val'ey ono of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named streams afTo'ding abundance of water tho euson round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lo'in with clay subsoil, there being aout three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Bidge, all of which produces excellent grain.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Bye, Timothv, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to fO muhel per acre of Wheat. 10 to 100 for Oats and Barley, and Hay from V to 8 tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Tho producing and export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Besides thu production of grain and hay for export, a i immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and suiallo fruits, aIo garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cliee.-e is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engacccl in largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Konde
Valley as anywhere, stocmnen and farmers alwujs 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 re bought at from $15 to H0 per acre, wh'ch is comparatively cheap. Many largo
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of tho 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. But little of the timber laiid has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. R. & N. R. B. entering the valley at the southern portion and following the foothills on tho
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 he extended during the next jear 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 tho valley will
have the best railroad facilities.
Puget Sound, W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of the
Soi'nd in competition for the trade of the Valli y, 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 said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is ofl'ered any wnere in the Northwest for the home
seeker or capitalists tlian in Grande Bonde 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 fariniug and dairying business,
offering in this line advantages not to bo found but in verv few places. Tho raising of thorough bred
stock is a profitable business and there is hardlv an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grando Bonde Valley and seo it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
ii 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 good country.
Thu Grande Rondo Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end
of tho valley, La Grande at the base of thu mountains on the northwest. Summerville in the northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Klgin in the extreme northern part of the
valley.
UjVIO IV ,
The County Sent of I'nlou County, Is situated In the f-outlicru portion of the Fertile Grande Itoude Valley, and has
the best Natural Location for a City of any town In Eustern Oregon. Situated, just at the bay of rolling hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended lu her mountain reservoirs, furnishing Immense wuterpower just waiting to lie utilized by the hand of
inau for all kinds of manufacturing industries. In fact the water power Is amply sulllclent to make Union the Lowell
of Oregon If the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned In that dlreetiou, which will bo the case when new
blood and Eustern capitalists come In. This Is one of tho best places In Oregon for the erection of mauufacturles.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and some energetic capitalist who Is engaged In such business would And
here the ehosen spot for such au enterprise, right In the heart of u grcut wool-growing section of the country. No
high freights to pay, water-power in abundance, and In fact everything that such a business would consume Is pro
duced hero In the valley.
The preseut population of Union Is about 1,200, but when tho O. A W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her
population Inside of six months. Euger eyes nre watching to take advantage of the present low prices in property and
procure for themselves a home where they may live hi peace and plenty. Water works can be put in at very little ex
pense by running a part of Catherine creek Into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all the fall
we want from 1M) feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump and the necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can be; made to rim directly Into the reservoir and all the WHSle can be utilized lit furnishing power for machinery.
When once wider works are completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., lor no purer drinking water can bo
found.
Our school facilities ure unsurpassed. Wo have In our public school, n High School Grade. The school Is supplied
with every possible convenience. Kveiything is furnished by our liberal haiided citizens, who believe in giving their
childreu a tirst-class edueatlou and that they can be educated lu no better way than by having a No. 1 School at home.
The school at present Is divided Into four compartments, nil thoroughly graded. Students on completing the pre
scribed course of study receive a certltlcnto to thut eltect. An uddltlou to the present school building is in contempla
tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments Is soon to be added.
Morally mid socially, Union Is unexcelled und her hospitality Is widely known throughout tho surrounding coun
try. Wo have four churches, all in a nourishing condition. There are six secret societies, doing much good to Im
munity. We have a number of stores of dlll'erent kinds, nil doing a prolltable business, ns thev supply a great agricul
tural district and the numerous mining cumps in tho near vicinity. We urn also supplied with several saloons, bar
bershops, blacksmlthshops, etc., ono principal hotel and several restaurants, so that the most fastidious tustes of tho
epiuiuinu i-Hu ou inn sMuaiu'ii. n v are- aiso supplied wmi iwo nrsi-ciass nvery anil leeu slables so that strangers
.fining hi una mt, .1 in mi, v uif iiwuim- in iui-uiiuK a iirai-uiux leum uuu itisiiig a urivo oui uuo me exlillleriitlng
atmosphere sud feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain seencrv, and breathing In the life-giviag cxvgon
that cau bo found nowhere so pure as lu Union County. To tho Eustencr, who Is not lined lo mountain scenery, when
tlrnt lieholdiugour beautiful location, his llrst and Involuntary exclamut on Is. "l'm-mll
Our eountv Court Hoiist U well SiiImIii'iI In mvitv TiHrtlenlitr. huvlnir n lurtr,, n,ii ..,.t,.w..n..u 1...11 1..
to accommodate tiny and all audiences. It also has In connection a jaiihullt by the Pauley llros., with nil their latest
improveed cells, thus mnklug things secure against tho escape of any prisoners that may bo confined tburclu. Our
Opera House Is 0110 of the largest this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains and finished in superb
style. One largo und commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, Is situated adjolu
lug the town. Also several saw mills in the near vicinity. The lumbering interest is bound to become quite u fea
ture lu our Industries. '
Taken all in all, Union Is one of tho best towns in Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has been kept back 011 account
of joor railroad facilities, but when the Hunt System of Kallroad Is completed iuto Union, its lutein resources will be
developed and it will take Its place among the thriving cities of our laud. We have one of the loveliest towns in
Oregon, and n great ileal of wealth Is here already. All that Is now needed is for people to come and take ndvuutase
of the great Inducements soon to lie thrown at the feet of every energetic muu possessing either brains or muscle
The pleusure-seeker or tho invalid can tlud 110 letter place to while away the summer months. Only threo'mlles
away can bo found Hot H rlugs und I.nkes reveling in medical virtues and curative powers the famous "Kansas Hot
Springs," ItheuinatUm mill such complaints disappearing us If by tho hand of some magician. Lovers of the piscatorial
art wilt rind the benunlfiil sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain and brook trout 111 tho
edge of tho mountains largcrgamo may bo found, while out lu tho valley along tlie Grande Itoude river arc geese
swan mid ducks lu ubuuduuee. lu tho the grain field prulrle chickens are quite plentiful. Taking all these natural
advantages for lileusuro and business, w e think people looking for a home cuu Hud no place sunnlvlug all their wants
better thuu the beautiful city of Union. " "
Sluce the much talked of Huut Hullrond Is mi nssureil fact, property Is beginning to advauce in prices, though at
the preseut time city lots and blocks may be had at very reusouuble rates. ' b
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, blocks, lots etc. to
be sold on very reasonable terms or for cash. ' a'e
Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the managers of this
association,
WILSON & HACKETT,
"TJIVICVrV (tj tt, 7vf
Who will cheerfully furnish thorn with nil tho information desired. ' -- Vr ,