UNION
COUNTY
OREGON,
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
AIVI)
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND.
' The vnlloyB are of nil nverngo elevation of about 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks being alwut (1,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams tho year round.
THE CLIMATE
Is dry and healthful, there being a sufficient rainfall to preserve tho moisture of tho soil and inaturo
crops. Snow Bcldom falls to tho depth of one foot in tho valleys, and nuvor remains longer than from
two to three weeks at a time.
Tho mean temperature for the winter months is about 20 degrees above freezing point, and for
tho summer months alwttt 70 alove zero, tho heat of tho day being offset by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
Tho winter seaeon usua'.ly beghiHiilHiut tho first of December and lasts till tho middle of February
or first of March, when tho husbandman is 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 sulicient moisture to tho ground and tempering tho atmosphere so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield.
During the months of July, August and September, which are tho harvesting months m this
county, tho weather is usualy drv and adapted to tho successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in thy autumn nionths to moisten tho ground sufficiently to permit the farmer to
prepare the same for his fall grain.
There iB no country in tho United States more blessed by a healthful climato than Union County,
as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The 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 ono cuso of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chifls and lover are totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and the lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do we have tho fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
tho rest is unsurvoyed, the unBiir-
DepoBitB. The valleys
no and starkoy. mo
There is 1,407,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in tho County; tho rest is tin
voyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral 1
rr tim rimtnfv urn rirnmln Uniuln. Indian. North Powder. Bin Creek. Fairle. Pi
soil in these valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such aB Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of the smaller varieties grow to perlcction. , .
Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to tho aero, Barley from 40 to 0, Oats about tho samo
as Barley, with exceptions in some localities, whon as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to
the acre. Tho Mountains are covered with a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pino, ramrack.
Spruco, etc. Tho most valuable is tho Pine, which is used m the lumbering ministry, aiso some oi
tho larger species of Tamrae, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sufficient to supply the surrounding country for ages. .... ,
The mineral resources of tho County aro only nartialv developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining lias 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 tho general summary of
to wealth of the County. A more detailed account of tho Mines and Mineral Resources of tho
County will bo found further on.
STOCK It, VISITS TO.
Tho assessment roll of tho county tor th vear 18&S, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
28.12:1 I lend of Cuttle, 55,5(15 Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of itself that the County
is a great Stock liaising Iteuioii. Thousands of la-ad of stock aro yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof a neat profit on iholr Investment.
In fact, the stuck business has been and still is tho most paying of any in tho country and it
bids fair to continue to bo such for many years to coinu. The hunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountains is very nutritious, stock fattening in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock has
to b. fed hnv for from one to two months during the winter, but in many places horses will winter upon
the bunch urass and do w ell. The climate Is such that sto k raised is of a hurdy and healthful charac
ter, ulving to work horses a strong constitution and powerful nnn-elo.
Tlin milk cow hero attains perfection. Slieep are very healthy and produce heavy llceces. The
dairying business In the lat few years has developed into a largo and prolltniile one, the country being
specially adapted to mo dusuichs oy rcai-on i mu iuhh uuuutiun iKn h'"-" -
cedent lange, the large quantity of hay and gialn raised per aero the healthfulness of animalB, tho
larire water sunnly and thenulck. markotof Butter and Cheese, 'lho J erst y, Holstino and Durham are
the nlHceof the common breed of cattle, and dalrymeiraro giving consuierauie attention
ritildlv taklmr
tn .lift I. ..... 1(11 .if 111..!. dnu'u
It Is said more prnllt can ha realized per year from a milk cow in this country than any other in the
United Stn'es, ono instance being given of a single cow for ono year, yielding a net protlt to tho owner
' Tvo'. r! 'm?ierlesCaro In operation at the Cove, in this county, which make 120,(00 pounds of cheese,
worth 14 tents per pound, and 75,0 pounds butter, worth p cents per pcumi.
.... . 1 .. .. ... f . ...1.1. ilmi .... i.k..ju miiialli. 1 1 DitAt. nHlini1f.lt
Tills year a creanifry is in operanoii ai. i.ii uiniiiiu, mm uuu nmuiai iciumuii w o.i, uiuuuKii
no doubt can be entertained but that It will prove tj l.e a prolltablo concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining Districts of Uii'on County are Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger,
Kldorado of tho West."
Cornucopia District is
witnin wiiicti there
outheartorly
tains Gold and
Some of the lodes aro free milling, but they generally contain base
Assaji nave neen maue or ore irotn
ne proper metneds
considered the New
in tho U stem portion of the County, and embraces a cectlon about ten miles equaro, within
are about WKI uunrtr. locations. The formation Is granite and slate; the ledges running in a S
and Northwest rly direction. Tho first locations were made hero in 1W1. '1 he quartz contal
Silver, tho gold predominating. Some ot tne looes aro irea mining, mu u cy g"er
metal nn In consequence wi'l have to bo treated in reduction wc rks. Assaj have been
the diltVront groups, showing an average yield of from 2.) to $1- 0 per ton. When the
aro employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will be coi
iold Mining Company, of Louisville, Ky . is the only company represented in tho dis-
triot. It has opened up several of lis ledges, winch weio o uininen at ironi uu to t-u i cacu.
Tho Ongon G
well defined ledge, averaging about four feet in
found to be a mass of the golden metal, lids
The Hod Jacket, belonging to this company, is a
u I ...I..... .. . pii.1' nil til. I lflVl'.iut flltimt.l. Wll
lllli;IIVPn (villi ih:ii c.iiii.11 "i niv ii.i... --, v . , -
company has a lO Stanip Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou
sand live hundred pounds of sulphuretn were secured tho llrst month of this spring s operations, heBIdea
lininenso qnantltie of free Mold caugni upon ineaniaigaui pans. ... ...
This company's expenses in building., machinery, roads, developments, etc., has amounted to over
81)00 OA). They have the Whitman, which has a shaft sunk otci- 1,500 feet and shows better as the work
progresses: the Altn No. 2, which Is developed sufficiently to indicate a well defined lodge of high grndo
ore. Tho present superintendent. Professor Smith. Is hluhly p eased with the prospect for Ids company
and predicts a second I.eadvlllo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of the canip with UXl feet or more
of development work aro showing up well, among which are the Simmons group, comprising the Key.
stone. Checknia'o, Umpire and Buckeye, all situated on tho Simmons Mountain and aid to bo the l est
group of minus In the camp, slso the Blue Bell, Little Casino and Monte Chrl to, situated on the mine
mountain and extensions of the Simmons ledjres, showing name grade and character of pre. lho V. ay
Up northeast or Cornucopia, shows some of the richet ore of any In canip and U no doubt an extension
of the Blue Bell and Simmons group. The Union, Companion, Last Chant e, Robert hnimet, l'prost
Queen, Bed Bov, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Bed Cross, Stoen groupe, btelln, I gor Boy. Climax
and Queen of the Went aro all sufficiently developed to show them to bo good ledges ami contain paying
ore in great nuantlllo. Tho 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 ono of the richest
camps In existence. . , , ..
The Sanger mines aro operated by a San Francisco Company, which la-can Its cperatious two years
ago. buying the ledges for 817,011) and now cleaning up on an averaue of $(p.tX,0 per month. These
liiines aro on the road between Union and Cornucopia, alxmt II I miles east of Union, having a tn-weekly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being plaeed in direct communication with Union, their trad.
'""'I'lioSpirta mines are about, eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding largo returns. The Sparta mines are mostly placer, but quit a number 0f
ledges have latelv been found whleh, as fur as dovelopeu, Indicate good paylug ore. A mill is being
built here and good returns are expected from Its work.
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JRXOTjT.rXrjVT INTERESTS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Giande Ronde. whose beauty is recomlng known far and wdde,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vault above. Wherever the eye
gazes It cannot help being enchanted' by our leautiful scenery. This valley embraces 300,1X0 acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as can b fount! on the Pacific Const.
The Grande Ronde Hiver enters ils boundary on the West and flows Easterly through the center
of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at i t Northern limits; 30x25 miles is its length' and bredth
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at tho South,
Mill Creek entering at the Fast and Willow Creek entering 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 aflbdlng abundance of watr tho eason round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lom wiih clay subsoil, there being a out three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellent grain.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, Barley. Rye, Tiniolhv, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to 60 butdieN per acre of Wheat. 40 to 100 fo'r Oats and Barley, and Hay from - to 8 tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Tli producing and 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, a ' immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and siualle fi'uils, al-ogarHcn vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheei-c is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as tine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde
Valley as anywhere, stocKnien and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no hlglier on fine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice places can be bought at from 81." to $UU per acre, winch 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 suveral 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 lai.d 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 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 sjstem will be extended during the next jear from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through
the Blue MountanB to SunimerTille, 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 tiie valley will
have tho best railroad facilities.
Puget Sound, W. T is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of the
So' iid in competition for the trad of the Valhy, the importance of which is eviaenced bv the building
of this second lino of road. In concluding thin description of Grande Ronde Valley, it can be said with
out fear of contradiction, that no Isjtter oppouunitv 1 ottered anywnere in the Northwest for the home
seeker er capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and itt vicinity. The resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indust.ie of nearly every kind, of which we now have
but very few. It will suutaiu ten times the population it now hs in the farming and dairying l.usiness.
ottering in this line advantages not to be found but in very few places. The 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 Ronde Valley slid see it and to invehtlgate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
ir stance have people, who have visited this valley given it other than tho best of reputation in regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a gDod country.
Tho 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. Suminerville 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,
The County Seat of Union County, l sltuntod lu the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Homle Valley, and hs
the best Natural Locution for a City of any town in Kiutern Oregon. Situated, just ut the liase of rolling hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, s beautiful, sparkling stream, whoso waters arc pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended in her mouuuiu reservoirs, furnishing immense waterpower just waiting to be utilized by the baud of
mau for all kluds of mauufacturiug industries. In fact tho wster power is amply sutlicient to make Union the Lowoll
of Oregon if tho attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will be the ease when now
blood and Kastern capitalists come in. This is one of the best places In oregon for the erection of manufactures.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and some euerjetie capitalist who is eugaged in such business would find
here the chosen spot for such un enterprise, right in the heart of a great wool-growing section of the country. No
high freights to pay, water-power hi abundance, and iu fact everything that such a business would consume is pro
duced here In the valley.
Tho 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 months. Kager eyes are watching to tnko advantage of the present low prices In property und
inwiru iur luraistiu's a uomu wuere tuey may live lu peace anil plenty. Water works can be put in at very little i
Piie uy riiuuiiiK apart oi uaineriue creet into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This will irlvo all the fall
wo waut-froni i 150 feet up: no expense of keeping a steam pump utid the necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can be, made to run directly Into the reservoir and all the waste can be utilized in furiiishiug power for machinery
hen once water works are completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can be
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. e have in our public school, a High School Grade. The school Is supplied
with every possible convenience. Eveiythlng is furnished by our liberal hamlet citizens, who believe in giving their
ch ldren a llrst-class education and that they can be educated iu no better way than by having a No. 1 betas I at home
Iho school at present is divided into four compartmeuts, all thoroughly graded, btudents ou completing the r
jerlbed course of study receive a certificate to that effect. An addition to the pieseut school building is in cou emiiht
tlou, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to lie added. luuitinpm
.Morally and socially. Union Is unexcelled and her hospitullty is widely known throughout the surrounding coun
try. o have four churches, all iu a nourishing condition. There are ix secret societies, do ug mucl g o to .
manltv. We have a number of stores of dlUVrent kinds, all doing a profitable business, as they mm. v a great agrk'u
lira district and the numerous mining camps iu the near vicinity. We are also supplied w ith several saloons bar
bershops, blaeksrnithshops, etc., one prluclpal hotel and seerui restaurants, so that the inost fastidious ti snfs of l lie
eplcurfan can bo fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two first-class livery and feci stables so th at strangers
coming to this town will have no trouble iu procuring a first-class team and taking a drive out into the exhlllerating
atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon th grandeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing ii he life-glviai exviuS
hat cau bo found nowhere so pure as in Union County. To the Kastener, who is not ued t o niouutalu scei Vnt
llrst beholdlngour beautiful location, his first and Involuntary eadamatJou is, "Paradise Found it I ast -e"L), "ucu
Our county Court House Is well finished in e cry particular, having a large and comnioti ous half amt.lv sufllcient
o accommodate any and a 1 audiences. It also has In connection a jail built by the I'auley K
improved! ce Is, thus making things secure against tho escape of auy prisoners that may be cou ued thorel i nr
Opera House Is one of tho largest this side o! Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains ami finished hi
style. One largo and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern in r rot ennuits I situatLHl K,b
Sw u ouMidfflr'"' 8"W n,1"S hl "1U "Car VlCl"1,y- h ll,ulK'rIu " und "toSil," q'ultoft:
.I'lrHJiMVlli.V ."J.Vi.Vh'1""..'8.?".? ! hc.?t.,SWI." ,n ?a?,?.rn Oregon. Heretofore she has be,
en kept back oil account
... ....... ............ ...v.... .v, nui-u nit- mini ajrieiii oi iiaun.uii is coinpietca into Union. ts nt-nt ri.iuiri.ii .t in ill
developed and it will lake its place among the thriving cities of our fand. We have Tone T,,, tie Tint o?n
Oregon, and a great deal of wealth is here already. All that is now needed is for people to co ne and tak i vnn.
of the great lnJueements soon to Is; thrown at the feet of every energetic nian possess lug either drains or mus le B
The pleasure-seeker or the Invalid can find no better place to while away the summer l on n.lv thr..
away can bo found Hot Springs and Lakes reveling in mistical virtues am curutivo o wers thL
Springs,' Kheumatlsm and such complaints dlsaptiearing as if by the hand of some mSu,, . . "saf JI,f
art will find the beanalful sparkling waters of Catherlnem-ek alive wl t he gamy mountain iud Zt 1 ?r. al
edge of the mountains largergame may le found, while out in the valley along the Gra de u HvJ?U!' 1,1 tho
swan and ducks in abundance. In tho the grain field prairie chickens are quite plentiful Tak ue all th.fTiSt
ftWSn" the" filffl a W ,Wnk I"ok,U ,Uf b - A Mip'p'l'vin'g XlllXZZ
tin cm- oi
Since the much i talked of Hunt Kallroad is an assured fact, property is begluuUg to advann. ,.,r... ..
the present time city lots aud blocks may be had at very reasonable rates ut'IuulB' 10 adauce in prices, though
at
THE UNION REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION
better advantage
Cks, lots, fitr rx
sold on very reasonaoie xerms or ior casn.
Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the managers of th"
a. .oc. ax. WILgON & HACKETT5
Who will choorfully furnUh thoiu with all the information desired.