UNION COUNTY, OREGON,
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
.A. IS" I
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND.
Tho valleys tire of un averse elevation of nloiit 2,000 feet ulxmj yea level, the highest mountain
peaks being about 0,000 feet ami continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply tor
numerouB streams the year round.
THE CLIMATE
Is dry anil healthful, there lx-ing a sufficient rainfall to preserve the moisture of tho boil and mature
crops. Snow seldom falls to the depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer than from
two to threo weeks at a time. ... , , , . , .- .
Tho mean temperaturo for tho winter months is alxmt i.'0 degroes alovo freezing jioint, and lor
the summer months about 70 above zero, the heat of tho day being ofli-et by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for tho fattened
The winter season usua.lv liegins about tho first of December and lasts till the middle of r ebruan
or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opjwrtunity to nrepare 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 the ground and tempering the atmosphere so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield. . . .
During the months of July, August and Sentomber, which are the harvesting months m this
......!., ti... ..-.nii.n ia itminl v )l rv mill nilii titiul tn tlio sm-ci-ssf til uatherini: of crons. Generally
....i. fua it. i.u niiint.tti ninnitiu . MiniKfoti tin- irromiil stifiieientlv to nermit tlie tanner to
UUUUK" '.ml ill Hii.uiiiiyv " n -
. . tlw. (.mn fr v l.la full frd 1 n
lirUllillU III!" D.UUU 1UI inn j,. ...... , 1( 1 . .
There is no country in tho United States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union Lotintj
asthe vigor and enterprise ol is citizens w.ii prove.
The various contagions prevalent in many localities are almost wholly unknown here, and are
usualk very mild in their attacks when thev do appear. There has only been one cate of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills ami fover are totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and ihe lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze the life out of humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphere which i? found V est
of the Cascade Mountains.
y,
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is l,4it7,500 Acres of Kurvoyed I .and in the County ; the rest is unsurveyed, the iinsur
veyed portion being valuablo for Timlxr, l'asturo and aloimding in Mineral Deposits, l ie valleys
of the Countv are Grande Hondo, Indian. North l'owder, Big Creek, Kagle Pine and btarkey. The
..- !.. n -....11 i. ii ...i....Sn.i i... r.iiuiinr nf wiwiit OhIh Riirlev. live. Tniiotliv. Clover and
41... I...... ui.n.tru nf Tnmr.ll lllll f IllM lllHH Ot tltlUKT I
111(1 lUlVI I L. I ' . i - - - '
is amply sulllcient to supply tlio surrounding country lor ages. . ,
The mineral resources ol ttieuounty are oniy paruaiv uevi-iojn.ii, nut ouiiiv-iwit 1..uD,v.v...b
mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore interline tho mountain sides, which, when
sufficient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tlio general summary of
tbo wealth of the County. A more detailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of the
County will be found further on.
STOCK RAINING.
The assessment roll of the county lor the year 1888. shows that there were 21. ,40 head of horses,
"8 l!M IlMd of c'tlle. Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of Itself that the County
U great Stock Raising Keglon. Thousand of head of stock sro ) early shipped. bringing to the owners
lltS and still N the most paying of any In the country and It
bids fair to continue to be such for many yearn to come. The hunch grass growing upon the hills and
iZuntalnsIs very nutritious, iUuk fattening In a very short time, ready for market. UKiiallystock has
to liWhHT for from one to two months during tho winter, hut In ii.aiiy places horses wll winter upon
t h biVnch gniVs anil do oll. Hia climate!- hiicI. that Mo k raise. is'of a har.ly and healthful charac
tcr. ulvliig to work h(r-ies a strong conM It ii Hon and powerful miiHce.
T i.) milk caw hero attains perfection. Sl.ee are verv healthy an. prodwee heavy tleeces. The
dnlrv nir bimlueHH In the lavt few years bus developed into a large and profitable one, Hie country being
miedallv adal.ted to Ihe business by reason of tho mllK producing quaimes o ii.e grasaea u nuc
eel
1
I Hen S 1H--' acre the hcalthfulness of animals, the
W vat ;.ip . yZ t ie niilolt market. of Hu. ter and Cheese. The .JerHey. lolstinu and Durham are
"vpMly tiikii.g the nlHceof the ...mmo.i breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention
'more iiroill canbo realized per year fiom a milk cow In this country than any other in tho
il"' ' " one ViiHtauce t.eli?g given of a single cou for one year, yielding a net profit to the owner
ra
to I he tirredl
His
United S
. .pmm I t . . . I It
01 Tw'. .caineri w,,,rh ,iwk1 l",,00 P"nd8 ofcheose'
worlh 11 rents ner iiound. and 7i.W 0 pounds butter, worlh SJS cents jer pound.
m"lmm&!mn in operation at l.a (Jrande, with what su.cess remains to be seen, although
no doubt can U-enterlal'neU but that It. will prove to be a piolllal.le concern.
MINING RESOURCES.
ITS
The Mining District of I n'on County are Cornucopia. Spartu iui.1 Sanger. Cornucopia District is
in tl c K.K erii portion ..f the t ounty, and embraces a section about leu m W hqimri", within which there
are hoiil N j itwrt "lm-.Uloiw. The formation Ih granlle and slate; l u; le.les running in a Swthetirtiirly
an 1 N 1 ril weu rlv d rectlo... The tlrsl locations vcre made h.-ro in 1RM. The quartz contains Gold and
Silver the go r '"illlng. Imt they generally contain bane
n eldan h conM.qr.Vco will have to be Heated in reduction works. Aajs have been made of ore from
Km showing an average yield of from to 1; 0 per ton. lien the proper methods
mmuff wark thee ledge, to the best advantage. Cornucopia will be considered the .New
Kldorado of , 'J.'ij, c,ln.,iin., tlf Louisville, Ky . is the only company rcprrMented In the din.
Mini it lmtmS which weieol.iained at from SllM OO to fsHMWI each.
1 l I ed .I t Cgl g t" IhU company, is a mdl detlnel llge. averaging aU.ut tour feet in
Uilckiiw aK " 'und to Ik. a mass of the go hleu metal. This
co m. i S VnH MwVuinp MlllriinnlnK night and day upon theore taken from IhN Jedge. Seven thou-
m n "l iKiuu.lit or -ulphursts ere .ecured the llrst month of thi hpiing s operations, liesldes
ImneiiMom , . i . i.
This wi tmmm"xwn In biilldlngi machinery, roads, developments, etc., has ainountod to over
faooo ni TI WaU w MiIi imn. whicii has a nhaf. sunk over I.5U1 feet and shows botteras the work
nrmrreHMOs- ti e A I. No. V!, which Is developed sunicle.il ly to Indicate a well defined ledge of High grade
SrerwwMil" iMir ntendr.it. Prof.r Smith, is highly p eased with the prospect for his company
and .3 T a "ee.T Lead vi lie of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of the camp with IMI feet or mora
ot th vHomm.nl b rl showing up well, among which are the Simmons group, compr sing the Key.
sto ie ChS and Huckeye, all situated on the Simmons Mountain and -al.1 to x- ho Lest
kupo lulul-s In ho lump. ilKO the lllur Uell, Little Casine and Monte ChrUto, situated un the Mt.ne
ii hj ti n t altiaud extendi out o the Slnmions ledges, showing satnogrado and character of ore. The M ay
Uu imrtl.eas n f Ci niucopl. hows noiue of the riche.t ore of any In cainp and U no doubt an extension
of the H e lle aV The Union. Companion, r.st C iamo. I oWrt K.nu.elv I hprest
Oneen He l Hov M Allen, lied Cross Steeu group,;, b ella, Tiger Iloy. Climax
ai id Ouee u o l'e Wi' t are all .ulllelrntlr developed to show them to be goo.1 ledges and con ain paying
ami win tu oi hp r . tu or pine Creek district is a rich one with an unlimited amount
0 11 ' ihM tobeoneof the-rlchct
"TheSangeMnhies are oiieraied b7 a San Kranelsco Company, which Iwgan its cj)eratlons two vears
hoo b.ffiX l"S (or7.Wflan l now cleaning up on Jin average of 8,p,lHl H,r inonth. Thene
Hgo. Union and Cornucopia, about ' m es east of Union, l.avlng a tn-weekly
SlilTfrom Union ml lo ConmroS!! Thi'sbelng'plae'e.l in direct comniunlcatlon with Union, their Xnd
ThLsnartaii.lnesaraaKnit eight miles southeast of Sanger and have licet, worked for the past
twentl Vie ihig tarpi ratunis. The Si.art. mines are mostly placer, hut quite a number of
W hTO .fcvoJojKMi. Indicate good paying ore. A ...111 is being
built hen- and good return arv expected from Its work.
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AGRICULTURAL XiS V ERESTS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Irzest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, Is the famous Grande Konde. whose beauty is recoming known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vult above, nereyer the eye (
gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces atiO.OtU acres ol
as fine Agricultural Land as can b; found on the Pacific CoAst.
The Grande Honde Itiver enters its boundary- on the West and tlows Easterly through the center
of the va'Iey and thence Northerly and out at i Northern limits; MOxSiS miles is its length and bredtli
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Hondo entering the valley at the South.
Mill Creek entering at the Kast and Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries make the Grande Konde Val'ey one of tho best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named (treams affo'ding abundance of water the 'ea80ii round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lomi with clay subsoil, there being n';out three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand HidKC, all of which produces excellent grain.
The vield of Wheat, Uats, Uarley. Ilye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from S!5 to 0 buchels per acre of Wheat 40 to 100 for Oats and Barley, aud Hay from '1 $ tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season. 4
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Tim producing and export of grain and hay from this valley in large and growing in quantity each
year. Besides the production of grain and hay for export, a i immense quantity of trulls, including Ap
ples, Plums, Primes, K-ars and smalle fruits, al-ogaHen vegetables are rained in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Uhce-e is also one of our staple product. Stock
raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as line stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Konde
Valley as anywhere. stocKinen aud farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on tine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice place- can he bought at from 15 to $!S0 per acre, wh eh in comparatively cheap. Many large
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality can lie had at very reasonable rates,
which could be divided'into nevcral irood farms.
TIMBER.
The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering ourjoses and
easily reached. But little of the timber laiid has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. R. & N. K. It. entering the valley at the southern portion aud following the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the valley on the West, traveraiug ihe Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of 14 miles.
The Hunt Railroad sjstem will be extended during the next jear from Wal'a Y alia, . T., through
the Blue Mountans to Suniniervllle, 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 ihe 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 ihe
So'-ndln competition for the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is eviaenced by the building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description ol Grande Ronde Valley, it can lie said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opponuuHv is tiered auywnere m the Northwest for the home
heeker or capitalists than In Grande Hondo Valley and its vicinity. The resources or 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 1ms in the farmiog and dairying tusmes.
ottering in this line advantages not to be found but In very few places. The raising ot thorough bred
stock Is a profitable business and there is hardlv an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande Ronde Valley and see it and to Investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
ii'titance 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 gnod country.
The Grande Ronde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: I nion in the southern end
of the valley. La Grande at the base of the mountains on the uorthwost, Siunmervllle in the northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Klgin in the extreme northern part of the
valley.
17 3V I IV ,
The County Scut of I'nion Ccuuty, is nltutited in the noutheru portion nf the l-erllle (iriimle Konde Valley, and tin
the best Natural I-ocstloa for h i:lty of any towu lu Kasteru Oreitou. Militated, juM t the lme of rolling tillK mi both
hides of Catherine Creek, i. beautiful, uparkllus stream, vhoc wters are pure us nature ever distilled aud held
NUspended in her mouutaln reservoirs, furnishing Immense walerHicr ju.it waltiiiK to be iitlMcl liy Ihe hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturing Industrie. In fact the water power Is amply Mtrticlent to make L'uiou the ioureU
of Oregon If the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned lu that direction, which w 111 ! the case when new
Mood and Kasteru capitalists come In, This Is one of the host placet In oreson ot the erection of maiinfaoturlcs.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and some energetic capitalist hu N engaged in such luiiluc. would Hint
hero the chosen spot for such an enterprise, right lu the bean of a gient wool-grow tug seetlou of Hie country- No
hlh freights to pay, water-power lu abundance, aud lu fact ever) thing that ucli a un-lnr" would eon-uine is pro
duced here lu the valley.
The present population of I'nlmi is about l.'-W, hut hcn the i A W T. railroad renehe here site will douole her
population Inside of six months. Kager eyes aie watching to take advantage of the present low prices improper!) and
procure for themselves a home where they may live lu peace and plenty. Water works can In- put in at ery little ex
pense by running apart of Catherine creek luto a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give nil the fall
we want from IN) feet up; no eipeuse of keening a steam pump aud the neoef.-ary repairs. This mortmain stream
can be' made to run directly into the reservoir aud all the waste can be utiliwl in furnishing power for maehluery.
When once waterworks are completed there will lie no need for ..elts, nprlug, etc., for no purer drinking water can be
found.
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have lu our public school, a High .-ehool tirade. The school I snppllcd
with every possible convenience. Kveijthlug is furnished ky our liberal handed eltlens, who believe In giving ihelr
children a flrst-class education and that they can be educatisl in no better way thau by having a No. 1 hchool at home.
The school at present is divided into four compartment", all thoroughly graded, fttuiletits on completing the pre
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that cflcct. An addition to the pleseut school building is In contempla
tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartment Is soon to be added.
Morally and socially. Union Is hu excel led aud her hospitality i widely known throughout the surrounding conn
try. We have four churches, all lu a nourishing condition. There arei secret societies, doing much good to hu
manity. We have a number of stores of different kinds, all doing a protittible bunueso. hi they supply a great agricul
tural district and the numerous mining camjis in the near vicinity. We are alio supplied with sveral saloons, bar
bershops, blacksmlthshops, etc., one principal hotel and several n'staiuants, so that the most fastidious tastes of the
eplciirtau can be fully satisfied. We ant also supplied with two tlrst-class Ihery and feed stables so that stranger
coming to this towu will have no trouble lu procuring a lirst-class team and taking a drive out Into the exhillerating
atmosphere aud feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain veuery, and breathing In the life-givlag exygen
that can be found nowhere so pure as lu Union County. To the Kan-iicr. w ho I not used to mountain scenery, when
Brat beboldtiigour beautiful location, bis first and involuntary ciclamation It, "Paradise Kound at Last."
Our couuty Court House is well finished lu fiery particular, having a large aud commodious hall, amply sutlicleut
to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has lit connection a Jail built by the Pauley Hros., witli ill their latest
lraproveed cells, thus making things secure agalust the escapeof any prisoners that may be eunlincd thurciu. Our
Opera House is one of the largest this side ol 1'ortlauil, with handsomely decorated curtain aud tin I sued in superb
style. Oue large and commodious Klourlug Mill, full roller process, w lib all modern improvements Is situated adjoin
lug the town. Also several taw'tuUls'lu the near l.-luily. The lumbering Interest Is bound to become t-uite a fea
ture lu our Industries.
Taken all In all, Union Is one of the beat tow ui In Kastera Oregon. Heretofnreishc ha been kept back ou account
of poor railroad facilities,. but wheu the Hunt system nf Itallroad is completed luto L'nlou, Its latent resources w 111 be
developed aud it will take Ha place among Ihe thriving cities of our land. We hale one of the loveliest towns Lu
Oregon, aud a great deal of wealth Is here already. All that Is now needed Is for people to come aud take advantage
of the great inducements soou to he thrown at the feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or mnscle.
The pleasure-seeker or the invalid can tind no U tter place to while away the summer months. Only three miles
away cau be found Hot Springs and Lukes reeling lu medical virtues aud ctiratlva powers the famotu "Kausaa Hot
Hprlnga," Kheumatlsm aud such complaints dltappcarlug as if bv the baud of some magician. Iiver of tho pl.tcatorlol
art will find the beaualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alhe with the gauiv niouutulit aud brook trout. In the
edge of the mountains largergame may be found, while out in Hie valley along the (Iraude Kuude river aregct-se,
awan aud dtirka lu abundance, lu thu the gratu field prairie chickens are QHlte plentiful. Taking all these natural
advantages for pleasure aud bulness, we think people looking (or a home rau tlnd no place supplying all their wants
better thau the beautiful city of Uulon.
blnce the much talked ot Hunt Itallroad Is an assured fact, properly U U'glnnlag to udvaoce lu prices, though at
the preaeut Unit city lots aud blocks may be hud at very reasonable rales.
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.
Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the managers of this
a.,ociation, wLHON & BCOKETT,
Who will I'lavrfitlly furnUh them with all the information dculmi.