The Oregon scout., September 19, 1889, Image 2

UNION COUNTY, OREGON,
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
AND
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND,
Tho vallevs nru of 1111 average elevation of nljout 12,000 feet above eca IotcI, tho highoat mountain
jeakH leiiig h'xmI (1,000 ftct and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
niitucroua streams tho year rouiui.
Ih dry and In
croiiH. Snow
two to tlitve weeks at a time
THE CLIMATE
icaltliful, there Isiing a Huflicicnt rainfall to prescrvo tho moisture of tho soil and mature
iw seldom falls to tho depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer then from
weeks at a time.
ti. ..w..,., .i-,i(iiri. frr Mm tiinii.r ninntliu !h nlKitit 20 decrees above freezing point, and tor
the summer months nliout 70 alovo zero, the heat of the day being offset by cool, nighta that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
Tlic winter season usually logins about the. first of Decerning and lasta till the middles of February
or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for hut Bpnngs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm and dry weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing sullcient moisture to the ground and temping tho atmosphere so as to assure the
fanner an abundant yield. ... u:.
During the months of Julv, August and September, which aro the harvesting months m this
county, tho weather is UBiialy dry and adapk-d to tho successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in th autumn mouths to moisten tho ground sufficiently to permit tho farmer to
prepare the same for his full grain. Tt
There is no country in Uie United StateK more blessed by a healthful chmato than Union County,
as the vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove. ,
The various contagions prevalent in many localities aro almost wholly unknown hore, and aro
usually very mild in their attacks when they do appear. There has only lecn ono case of Smallpox in
Union' County since its settlement, and chills and fever aro totally unknown. Y e have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and ihe lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze the life out ot humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmospnero which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1.4H7.500 Acres of Surveyed kind in tho County; the rest iH unsurveyed, the unsur
veyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and nliouiidiiig in Mineral Deposits. Tlio valleys
of the County aro Grande Honde, Indian, North Powder, Hig Creek, Kaglo. Pino and Starkoy. The
soil in these valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Hurley Rye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits,, such as Apples, I'Iuhih, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of tlio smaller varieties grow io penecuon.
The yield of Wheat is from 2d to 50 Dusiieis to uie acre, inirioy irom -iu i , u u.
ii i .r :.... :.. ,.!,., . nu iihfii n inn luihlie s of oats has tieen raised to
MS I Hiney Willi UMrifUiflin ill ouuiu immnani if . ; . e rrt I
(he acre. The Mountains are covored with a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pino, Tamrack,
Spruce, etc. The most valuable is the Pine, which is used in the lumbering industry, also some of
the larger species of Timinic, but this class of timler is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amnlv sulllcient to supply the surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of tho County are only nartialy developed, out sumcieni prosneeuiiK aim
niniiiL' has been done to prove that great ledges of ore interline the mountain sides, which, when
n.t :., !...;.. .!.,. nnnw.nt u-i lxt ii in-ont factor in tlio irenerui summary oi
lit wit
I
Hiillicienl canital is employ
O'o wea llli of the County. A nion1
Countv will he found futthcr on
i detailed account of Uie Mines and Mineral Resources of tho
NTOCJIv UAISIXCi.
Tlw. nwm.HHnunt roll of the county tor the vear lcWf, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
"H SS o 1B5.M ead of Sheep. nnd T,,r,70 Head of Swine, showing of Itaelf that the County
in a Knit Stack Uulilng Uwriou. Thousands of head of stock aro yearly shipped. briiiKinp; to the owners
"""in' ttrilAVlSte Htll. Is the met paying f any i the country and it
hl.ls fair to continue to be such lor many yearn to come. The hunch uriws grovvlng upon the l llM and
mi irIiih ls verv nulrltlons, Htock fattening in a very short lime, ready for market. Umtally stock has
K K r one to two mouths during the winter, but In n.anv places horses will winter upon
the htinch urais and do well. The climate is such that Mo k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ler.' ulvhiK to work horses a strong coiiHtllutlon and powerful muscle, -r,,
Th' milk cow hero attains perfection. Sheep are very healthy and produce heavy tleeces. The
dalrv n hi sli.esH In the last Tew tears has developed Into a large and profitable one, the country bclur
sn -ci i lVa. S producing quafities of the grasses ami the ex-
v l Krthelarg. quantity of hay and g.ain raised per acre the healthfu hchs o animalH, the
uiKe va er supply ami the nulc marketof Ilutter and Chee. The .lerHfy. lolstlne and Durham are
rapidly taklclMhe ph.ee of tl.e comn.on breed of cattle, and dairymen are wiving considerable attention
10 "Vt iS'l more1 Sit canb9 realized Prr y.r from a milk cow in thi country than any other in Uie
United fit , one instance being given of a slnule cow for one year. yleldlnK a nit profit to the owner
f?'lVo whlrh ,!lk l20'(0d ,ounds "f.
worth II ifiits ner iiound, and 70.W0 ikhiihIh butter, worth 25 cents per p unit.
I'l.iv year a wamrrv is in operation t l.a Crnnde. with what su.vchs remains to be seen, although
no doubt "cau lie entertained but that it will prove to lie a profitable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mlniuu DiHtrictM of Un'on County are Cornucopia, bparta and banger. Cornucopia I) s trirt i
in tl . J M "rn portion of the ( ounty, and embrai-e- a section about len ... If. Mpmre, within which there
are "hoVit WW i wrU locations. The formation Ih granile and slate; t he ledges i-unnlng in a boutheartorly
an 1 No th we erly direction. The tint locatioiiH uere made here In 18M. The quartz contains Gold and
Silver. he uoldprcdoinlnatlng. Soma of the lodes are free milling, but they generally contain Uho
n ut .1 Vn i rroiihtsiueiiPO wIM have to be treated in reduction wt rks. Avsaj n have been made of ore from
t llilVr.Vtii : umium Mhowlnu an aTerge yield of from VS to Sfl 0 per ton. When the proper methods
are brst advantage. Cornucopia will l.a considered the New
' '''rimOruon'tid LouUvllle, Ky . is the only company repieHentod In the dls-
l.lct t hJlZv ueu u, "everal of'ii le.lg.-H. which wu.c obtained at from felO.KKl to 20(XK each
W iapk"tjM.WlnKto thU company, Is a ;ell defined ledge, averaglm aUmt four feet ,ln
thick lies sauUvhei struck on the lowest tunnel, ww found to be a ma;s of the go den metal, this
re in y I " 4 ll-Vtruiip Mill ruunln night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou
' " V iV .... ..n,,,.1.!. of .ulnbiiietn were secured the first month of thL hprlng's operations, bcsldex
. ... r ..I.I n.i..lil miin tlm niiinluiim limm.
'"'"TOrnp ny ". deve.omnents. etc haHaniounted to over
ll-itfituanK Si lit It It I Mill V IlII'IlMI'tl Willi I II 15 lllXJfllll U L IU1 1 1 1 n LVI 111 ll 11
aim- ;K:3 3ieor 'Xr of the camp win, lin feet or moiv
f . v. lo. ment work are showing up well, among which are the Simmons Kroup, comprling the Key
htou e (Tckma'e cji nlre and Huckeje, all situated on the Slminons Mountain and ald to be the best,
urou I of nh. Ii 't hi camp "lU the lJlue Ih-ll, Little Caslne and Monto Chrl to nituated on the nunc
mmiut i n d o" e iHiona of the Slminon.ledK.. showing a.ue grade and charactr of pie. 'Ihe V ,y
Ut i t he. " of Cornucopia, .how, wine of the riehe.t ore of any in camp and bun doubt an extension
of h III e Hell and Simmons group. The Union. Companion. I-ast Chan.e, Hobert Kmmet, 1 prest
Our iu I IV I or May Flower, Cox and Allen, lied Cross Steen gnnipe, S ella, Tiger llov. Climax
d Queen o the West are all anmciently developed to show them to be gool ledges and contain paylnu
o n lii in ' " 1 1 nil h The Cornucopia or i'lne Creek district U u rich one wit n an uuliinited amoun
fovaiXnVyl rlchue. It h destined to be one of the riehe.t
The Saucer mlncH aro operated bT a San KrancUco Company, which )Kan Its cperatlons two years
auo I ylni the I Iges for i7,0(.0 and now deaning up on an avejaoe ot 80.tXXl iper -mon th. These
mineH ire nn tUe ro?d between Uulon ami Cornucopia, atsmtfi'l miles raat of Union, having a n-weekly
ail from I n on an to Cornucopia, tlm beliiR placed in direct communication with Union, their trad-
UK Ppiui. , ..i..i.t unnil,a.i nf s;in-r unit liavn hi-rn worked for Uie oattt
twe y0S l,ut null, a number of
MKiH haveS f"r derelopwi, Indicate g-.od paii.g ore. A mill is being
built horo anil k01 n-lunw ai iifCttHl from Itn tvork.
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AGRICUI TURAL INTKRESTS.
Now to retnni to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Ursest, most Fertile and attractirc
Valley of Union County, ia the Famous Grande Honde. whose beauty is hecomlng known far antt wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which scem to rest the l1uo vault above. Wherever the eye
gazen it cannot help being enchantol by our beautiful ncenery. This'valley embraces 300,010 acres or
as fine Agricultural Land as can b-found on the Pacific Cost.
The Grande Rondo River enters its boundary on the West and flows hastcrly tbrouHb. the center
of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at I Northern limits; 30x25 miles is its length and bredtn
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Hondo entering the valley at the bontn.
Mill Creek entering at the Kant ami Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributa-ieH, make the Grande Honde Val'ey one of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of tho above
named streams affo'ding abundance of wat-r the enson round. ...
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich loom with clay subsoil, there being aout three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand HtdRe, all of wnicn proauccs oxce leni
The yield ot Wheat, Oats, liarley. Hye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover ia large, tho cereals yielding
from 25 to eO buehel- per acre of Wheat 4C to 100 for Oats and Uarley, and Hay from 2 l 8 tons per acre,
frequenUy three crops of Alfalfa bolus cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Th producing and exportof Rratn and hay from this valley is larRcand growing in quantity each
year. Besides the production ot grain and hay for evport. a Immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples. Plums, Prunes, Pears and smalle fruiln, al-ogaHen vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed In the neighboring sections. Huttcr and Chee-e is also ono of our staple product. Stock
raislnc is eniraixed In largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farina of Graude Honde
Valley as anywhere. stocKuien and fanners atwajs securing the best bred animals tor breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on fine than poor stock. The lauds of thi valley have all been taken, but
ohoice place can re bought at from 81f to $:) per acre, wh ch is comparatively cheap. Many largo
bodies of land owned by single individuals aud of the best quality cau Ik) had at very reasonable rales,
which could be divided Into neveral rood farms.
TIMBER.
The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. Hot little of the timber laud has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. R, & N. H. H. entering the vallev at the .outhern portion and followMnR the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the valley on the West, traversing the Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of 14 miles. .... ,,f ,, -r .i i
The Hunt Kailroad system will be extended during the next jear from V al'a W alia, . r., tliroiiKli
the Hlue Mouniaus to SunnnerTille, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse the cn
Ure length of the valley through its center to Uuion. Upon the building of this road the valley will
have the best railroad facilities. r t
Puget Sound. W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and tho cities of the
So' ud in competition tor tho trade of the Valliy, the importance of which is evidenced by the building
of this second line of road. In concluding thU description of Grande Honde Valley, it can bo said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better oppo'tun'tv is offered any wncre in tho Northwest for Uie home
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Honde Valley and iu vicinity. The resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing industries of nearly every kind, of which we now hare
but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the farmiug and dairying business,
offering in this hue advantages not to be found but iu very 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 Grande Honde Valley und see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
instance have people, who have visited this valley givrn it other than Uie bestof rcputatiou in regard to
climate, soil and evervUiing that goes to constitute a good country.
The Grande Honde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end
of the valley, l.a Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest. Sunimerville in tho northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on the cast side, and Klgin in the extreme northern part of the
valley.
The County Seat of I'nion C'Miiity. ) hitimtod in the oontheru -portiou 0( the I'vrtilf Urmiiic Konde Valley, and has
Ihe U-nt Natural Locution for n City of nay towu iu Kwtorn Oregon. .Situated, Juki at the 1hio of rolling hllN on both
sldtnof Catherine Creek, a U-autlfnl, spHrkiiui; stream, whoie waters are pure at nature eer distilled and held
Mixpendcd in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing lmmciie Mnten'er just waltinstobe utilled by the hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturlu!; indu-trles. In fact the Hater power Is amply sullieleiit to make Union tlio Uiwcll
of OreRiiu If the attention of her enterprising eltlcnn were turned iu that direction, hlch will he the case when new
hlood Hiid Kaatern capitalists come in. This is one of the best places iu Oregon for the erection of mHiiufHCturh .
A niMilen mill is greutly nets led now, and some enontetle eapltallit who N encavted In such liusine would Hud
here the eho-cn spot for such an enterprise, rifsht Iu the heart of a great wool-growing tec t ion f the country. No
hlsh fri'lght-s to pay, wuter-isiwer in abiuidnuce, and In fmt everylhlng tliat ueh a bushier would consume Is pro
duccd here in the valley.
Tho present tiopulathin of t'nlon Is lout l.ano, but when the O A. W. T. railroad reaches liere she will double her
population Inside of six months. Kager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low prices In property and
procure for themselves a home where they may live In peace aud plenty. Water works can be put iu at very little ex
penso by running a part of Catherine creek into a lnrgo reservoir ou the hill back of towu. This will gheall the fall
wo waut from 1C0 feet up: uo expen-e of keeping n steam pump and the necessary repairs. This mountain stream
ran txsmade Ut run dlrvctl into the reservoir and all the waste ran be utilized hi furnishing power for machinery.
When once waterworks are completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can he
Oiir school facilities are unsurpassed. We havu In our public school, a High School tirade. The school Is supplied
with every possible convenience. Hu-ijthhis is lnruishcd by our liberal handed citizens, wtio believe In giving their
children a llrst-class education and that they cau be educated hi no better way than hy ha Ing a No. 1 school at home.
The school at preseut Is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded, fetudents on completing the pre
scribed coursoof tndy rist'le a ccrtlticato to that ettect. An addition to the picsent school building is in contempla
tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to be added.
Morally aud socially, t'nlon Is unexcelled imd her hospitality is w tdely known throughout the surrounding coun
try. Wc hae four chnrclies. all hi a llourlslilng condition. There are lx ecret societies doing much good to hu
manity. We have a unmber of stores of dltlvnmt kinds, ill doing a proflUihle business, as they supply a great agricul
tural district and the numerous mining camps In the neyr vicinity. We are also supplied with seeral mloous, bar
bershops, blacksmlthhops, etc., one principal hotel and ieverai restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes of the
oplciuiau can bo fully satisfied, We are also supplied with two tlrst-class lhery and feed stables so that strangers
coining to this town w ill havr uu tiouble Iu procuring h llrst-class team aud taking a drive out into the exhllleraUng
atmosphere ami feasting his eyes upon thf grandeur of oar mountain scenery, aud breathing iu the lifo-givlag exygen
that can txt found nowhere so pure as hi Union county. To the Kastener. who l not used to mountain scenery, when
tirst beliohllngour U'Uiitlfnl locatlou, his tlrst and itiroluntary isclamatiou Is, "l'aradise Kound nt Last."
Our county Court Hniin' Ls well tluUhrd In oerv partlcalar, hating a large and commodious ball, amply sutliclent
to accommodate any and all audiences. It nisi has hi connection a jail bnllt by the I'auley Droit., with all their latent
lmprowvd cells, thus making things secure agulust tlie escapeof an) prlsoucra that may be routined thurein. Our
Opera Housu Is one of thu largest this side ot l'ortlaud, with handsomely decorated curtains and finished iu superb
style. One larsu and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, Is situated adjoin
ing the town. Also Mieral saw mills hi the near vicinity The lumbering Interest Is bound to become quite u fea
ture In our industries.
Taken all iu all, Union Is one of the best tow in In Kfl'tfirn Oregon. Heretofore she bus been kept back on account
of poor rullroad facilities, but heu the Httnt System of Kailroad Is completed into I'nlou, its latent resources will be
derelopi'd aud It will take Its plats-nmoug the thriving clllee of our laud. We havo oue of tho loveliest towns in
Oregon, and u great deal of wealth is here alnady. All that Is now uredrd is for people to couio and take advantage
of the gn at Inducements sixm to U tlirttw n at the fret of every enersvtie man poseesshig either brains or muscle.
Tho pleasure-seeker or tho Invalid ran tlud no belter place to while away the summer mouths. Only three miles
away ran ) found Hot Springs and l.nkes reiellu; in racdlrnl virtues aud curative powers the famous "Kansas Hot
Springs," Ithcuiaatlsm aud such complaints disappearing as If by tho hand of some magician, lxiversof the piscatorial
art will tlud Uie bcuttaiful sparkling waters of ( atbcriue creek alive with the jrarav mountain and brook trout. In tho
edge of tho mouutulns largergame uia) W found, while out in the valley along the Grande Itonde rher aro geese,
awan and ducks iu ubuudancr. In tho the grain tlcld prairie chickens are qalte plentiful. Taking all these natural
advantages, for pleasure unil business, w c think people look In f for a home cau tlnd no place supph lug all their wants
better than the U-autlfnl city of Union,
Since the much talked of Hunt Railroad Is an assurvd ic, property is bogluula; to advance In prices, though at
the pri'scut time rilv lots and Works may be hail at very reasonable rates.
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
association, -XIOIV & HACKETT,
Who will cheerfully furnish tluuit with all the information desired.