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,
The valluys are of an averajie elevation of about 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks lxiiiif? nlotit 0,000 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 the depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer than from
two to three weeks nt a time.
The mean temperature for the winter months is alout 20 degrees above freezing point, and for
the summer months alout 70 nlxvo zero, the heat of the day being oflset by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued ,
The winter season usua.ly begins alwut the first of December and lasts till tho middle of February
or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opjiortunity to prepare for his springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm anil dry weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing suficient moisture to tho ground and tempering the atmosphere so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield.
During the months of July, August and September, which aro the harvesting months in this
county, tho weather is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in th 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 piove.
Tho various contagions prevalent in many localities are almost wholly unknown here, and are
usually very mild in their attacks when thev do appear. There has only been one caso of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills and lover are totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the 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 tho Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1,107,500 Acres of Surveyed Ijmd in the County; the rest is unsurveyed, the unsur
veyed iKjrtion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of the County aro Grande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Rig Creek, Hagle, Tine add Starkey. The
soil in these valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Hurley, Kyi, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of the smaller varieties grow to perlection.
Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to the acre, Barley from -10 to 70, Oats about the same
as Hurley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to
the acre. The Mountains are covered with a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tain rack.
Spruce, etc. The most valuable is the Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
the larger species of Tumrac, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sufficient to supply tho surrounding country for ages. , ,
The mineral resources of the County are only iiartialv developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been dono to prove that great ledges of ore mterlino tho mountain sides, which, when
sufficient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tho general summary of
t'o wealth of the County. A more detailed account of tho Mines and Mineral Resources of the
County will bo found further on.
STOCK
The assessment roll of the county tor the year 1888, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
28,12;i Head of Cnttle, 5T..RB5 Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of Itself that the County
is o great Stock liaising llugton. Thousands of head of stock ure yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof a neat profit on iholr Investment.
In fact, the stock business has been nnd still is 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
mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening In a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock bus
to b'i fed liar for from one to two months during the winter, but In manv places horses will winter upon
the bunch grass and do well. The climate Im such that sto k raised is of u hardy and healthful charac
ter, ulvlng to work horses u strong constitution and powerful muscle.
Tho milk cow hero attains perfection. Sheep aro very healthy and produce heavy tleeces. Iho
dairying business In the last few vears has developed into a Urge and profitable one, iho country being
specially adapted to the business by reason of the milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex
cellent range the large quantity of hay and g-aln raised per acre, the healthfulness of animals, the
larire water supply and the quick market of Mutter and Clieeso. Tho Jersey, llolstlno and Durham are
rajddly taking the place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention
to tho hreedi. g of tlieir cows. ... . m
It is said more profit can l9 realized 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 n net profit to tho owner
of 8175 besl les tho calf. .... . ,, , , ,.. m, i i
Two . r. iimerles are in operation at tho Cove, In this county, which make 120,(0d pounds of cheese,
worth It cents per pound, and 7o,U0 pounds butter, worth 25 cents per pound.
This year a creamery is In operation at I .a Gnuide, with what success remains to be seen, although
no doubt can bo entertained but that It will prove to lie a profitable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining District of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In the Hslcrn portion of the County, and embraces a section about len miles square, within which there
ore about WW quartz locations. Tho formation Is granite and slate; the ledges running in a froutheartorly
and Northwesterly direction. Tho first locations were made hen; in 1KH4. 'I ho quartz contains Gold and
Sliver, the gold predominating. Some of tho lodes are free milling, hut they generally contain hate
metal an In consequence wl'l have to Ih) treated in reduction works. Assays have Wen made of ore from
the diUVrent groups, showing an average yleltt of from 2.) to $1. 0 per ton. When tho proper methods
are employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will be considered the Mw
,lHi?il?..?5 ! ni.Miiiilnir Comnaiiv. of Louisville. Ky . is tho only company represented in the dls-
vs. - r,".. "- i ",... f.'i ........ nl..l.l ,.t from XIII COO In 'll lim ,.n,.!i
lenott upoverai oi us ie"Ki, niinu niuim.i .... ....... v. . . . ......
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I ll It 11 n u (if
Tho lied Jacket, belonging to this company, is a wen (ion net leuge. averaging i .mi in ur leeim
thickness and when struck on tho lowest tunnel, was found to be a mass of the go den metal. Ibis
company has a 40-Stamp Mill running night and day utsm tho ore taken from tills ledge. Seven thou
sand five hundred pounds of sulphurets were secured the first month of this springs operations, besides
Immense quantities of free Hold caught upon the amalgam pans.
mm. i.. ....... ....-.. ....... m... ii luillil htirx. much nerv. roads, development, etc..
o.ino n. n -I'l.i.v iTmi-h'iIii, Whitman, which lias a shaft sunk oyer 1,500 feet and si
' " i... x i... v u ,.i,i,.i, r ,l.,v..lnn.cl HtilllcliMitlv to indicate a well detln
Z firfinil Is hiihlv Pleased with the
has amounted to over
lows lietleras the work
ed lodge of lilttli Krado
prospect for his company
Many other ledges of the camp with 100 feet or more
. .1... Ll . . . . ..... ! !...- .1... I
ore. The present superinteiuieni, i-niiesor ouu
and predicts a secoiui iirnuniiu ui .,i...nn......
of development work are showing up well, among wnicu arc no oi.i.u.uns k,u,.,., u , i ,k i
stone. Checkmate, Umpire and Uuckeye, all situated on the himinons Mountain and I -aid to Ik; he best
group or ilue" In tho camp, Mho the Hlue Hell, Utile Casino and Monte Chri-to, situated on the ante
niminta u and extensions of the Simmons ledges, showing name grade and character of ore. 1 lie W ny
Up. northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of the ricnesi. ore oi any m m. una . h uui. i n imu miui
of the Hlue Hell and Simmons group. The Union. Companion. I.ast U.amo, 1 obert K.nn.et, I-prest
Oiieen Hrnl Hov May Flower, Cox and Allen, Hed Cross, Steen groupe, b tella, T ger Hoy. Climax
z. i A.'. . .r..'. w..' u M,,ninl.vi.iK- ii,vlnin-d to show them to be good lodges and contain paving
2 n Km i . 1 u ant 10 Tlio Cin-nT.copia or Pine' Crook district is a rich one with an unlimited amount
oforeiHHloidyl richness. It Is destined to be one ot the richest
i. I.
The Sanger mines are operate.! by a San Francisco Company, which lu-gan its cpcratlons two years
i.tl..V." t li.l.Va-.H for l7.t 0 aiifl now cleaning up on an average of 6iO,tM) per month. Thee
nnes kre mi tho road bet wren Union and Cornuco VZ?I
mall from Union on to Comucopta, thus Isjing placed In direct communication with Union, their true
lug point
theSparta mines are about, eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
rot rs ,s 111 Yielding large returns. The Simrla mines are mostly placer, hut quite a nun. bor or
Jws iave latelv been found which, as Mr as develoeu. Indicate good paying ore. A mill Is llng
dll here and good returns are expected from its work.
tw
ledge
built
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AGRICUiyr URAL INTERESTS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Gtande Konde, whose beauty is becoming known far and Wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vpult above. Wherever the eye
gazes it cannot help being enchanted hy our beautiful scenery. Tills valley embraces 300,0X0 acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as can b' found on the Pacific Const.
The Grande Honde Itlver enters its boundary on the Wfst and Hows Easterly through the center
of the va'lpy and thence Northerly and out at i b Northern limits; 30x25 miles is its length and bredth
and with Catherine Creek, the laigest tributary of the Gr8iule Ronde entering the valley at the South,
Mill Creek entering at the ICat and Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Honde Val'ey one of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named streams afTo-ding abundance of water the eason round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lotm wiih clay subsoil, there being avout three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Illdge, all of which produces excellent grain.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, Iiarley. Hye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to 0 bui-hel per acre nf Wheat 40 to 100 for Oats and Harley, and Hay from 2 to 8 tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Th producing anH export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Besides the production of grain nnd hay for export, a immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, i'runei", l'ear and smalle fruits, al-o garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Uutter and Chee-e is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engsceu in largely and profitably; as line stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Hondo
Valley as anywhere, stocKinen and farmers always securing tho 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 be bought at from 81." to $'.',0 per acre, wlrch is comparatively cheap. Many large
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality can be had at very reasonable rates,
which could be divided into nuveral (rood farms.
f TIMBER.
The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. Hut little of the timber laud has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. II. & N. H. R. entering the vallev at the southern portion and following the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the valley on the West, traversing iho Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of 14 miles.
The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next year from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through
the Hlue Mountans to Sunimcrvllle, 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.
Pugct Sound, W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of the
Soi' nil in competition for the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced by the building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Honde Valley, it can" be said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is offered anywnere in the Northwest for the home
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indust'ies 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,
offering In this line advantages not to be found but in verv few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a profitable business and there is hardly 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
It 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 gjod country.
The Grande Ronde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end
of the valley, La Grande at toe base of the 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.
UNION,
The County Scat of Union County, is situated In the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Roude Valley, and has
the best Natural Location for a City of nny town iu Knstern Oregon. Situated, just tit the base of rolling hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, spiirkliui; stream, whose waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspeuded in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing immense wnterpower Just waiting to bo utilized by the band of
man for all kinds of muuufucturlng industries. Iu fact the water power is amply sulllcient to make Union he Lowell
of Oregon If the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will be the case when new
blood and Eastern capitalists come Iu. This Is one of the best places In Oregon for the erection of manufacturles.
A woolen mill is greatly needed now, and some energetic capitalist who Is engaged in such business would fl nd
here the chosen spot for such an enterprise, right iu the heart of a great wool-growing section of the country. No
high freights to pny, water-power In abundauce, aud iu fact everything that such a business would consume is pro
duced here iu the valley.
The present population of Union is about 1,200, but when the O. & W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her
population Inside of six mouths. Kager eyes are watching to take udvautuge of the present low prlees In property and
procure for themselves a home where they may live in peace and plenty. Water works can be put Iu nt 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 tiiO feet up; no expense of keeping a sleam pump and the necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can bo, made to run directly into the reservoir and all the waste can v utilized iu furnishing power for machinery.
When once water works are completed there III be no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can be
found.
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have iu our public school, a High School (irade. The school Is supplied
with every possible convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal banded citizens, wno believe in giving their
children a tlrst-class education and that they can lie educated in no better way than by having a No. 1 School at home.
The school at present is divided Into four compartments, all thoroughly graded. Students on completing tho pre
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that ellect. An addition to the piesent school building is iu contempla
tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments Is soon to bo added.
Morally and socially. Union is unexcelled and her hospitality Is wldelv known throughout the surrounding coun
try. We have four churches, all in a nourishing condition. There are six secret societies, doing much good to hu
manity. We have a number of stores of ditlCreut kinds, all doing a profitable business, as they supply a great agricul
tuial district and the numerous mining cumps in the near vicinity. We are also supplied with several saloons, bar
borshops, blacksmithshops, etc., one principal hotel and seu-rul restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes of the
eplcuriau can be fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two first-class liverv and feed stables so that strangers
coming to this town will have no trouble iu procuring a Urst-cluss team and taking a drive out into tho exhilleratliig
atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing in the life-glvlag oxygon
that can bo found nowhere so pure as iu Union county. To tho Kastener. who Is not used to mountain scenery, when
tirst beholdlugour beautiful location, his first and involuntary exclamation Is, "Paradise Found at Last."
Our comity Court House is well finished in every particular, having a largo and commodious hall, amply sufficient
to accommodate any aud all audiences. It also has in connection a jail built bv the Pauley llros., with ill their latest
improvoed cells, thus muklug things seouro against tho escapoof any prisoners that may bo confined thurelu. Our
Opera House is one of tho largest this side ol Portland, with, handsomely decorated curtains and finished in mperb
style. One largo and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, Is situated adjoin
ing thetown. Also several saw mills iu the near vicinity. The lumbering Interest is bound to become iiulto a fea
ture iu our industries.
Takeu all iu all, Union Is one of tho U'st towns In Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she bus been kept back on account
of poor railroad facilities, but when the Hunt System of Kailmad is completed into Union, its latent resources will be
developed aud it will take its place among the thriving cities of our land. Wo have one of the loveliest towns In
Oregon, and a grout deal of wealth Is here already. All that Is uow needed Is for people to come and take advantage
of the groat inducements soon to be thrown at tho feet of every energetic man possessing either bratus or muscle.
The pleasure-seeker or the Invalid cau Hud no better place to while away tho summer mouths. Only three miles
away can lie found Hot Springs and IjiIcs reveling iu medical virtues and curative powers the famous "Kansas Hot
Springs," Rheumatism and such complaints disappearing as if by the bund of some magician. Lovers of the piscatorial
art will Hud tho beuualful sparkling wateis of l atheriuo creek alive w ith tho gamy mountain and brook trout. In thu
edge of the mountains largergame may be found, while out iu the alley along the (1 ramie Koude river urogeeso
swan and ducks In abundance, in the the grain field prairie chickens are quite plentiful. Taking all these natural
advantages for pleasure and business, wo think people looking (or a home cau find no place supplying all tbelr wauts
U'tter than the beautiful city of t'liiou,
slneo the much talked of 11 nut Huilroad is an asmcd fact, property is beginning to advance In prices, thuugh at
tho present time city lots aud blocks may bo hud at very reasonable ruti-s.
THE UNION REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION
lis asso-
Ivantage
be sold on very reasonable terms or for cash. v
Parties desiring information ot union oouniy can ao no oeuer man interview or address the managers of this
a.sociation, WJLS01V & HACKETT,
Now has in its possession tracts of land suitable for small farms, or they could be laid off into blocks. Tli
ciation has started in on a Tirm oasis, naving witnin us power tne means ot nandiing property to a better ad
than anv firm in Union County. They already have numerous tracts adjoining the citv: farms, blocks Intc
Who will uheorfiilly furnish thorn with all the Information desired.