Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1889)
COUNTY OREGON, UNION IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE AND COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND. Tho vnlloya nrc of an average elevation of alxmt 2,000 feet alove eon IotcI, the highest mountain peaks being alwut 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 tho soil and mature crops. Snow seldom falls to the depth of-ono foot in tho valleys, and never remains longer then from two to threo weeks at a time. Tho mean temperature for tho winter months is alout 20 degrees alove freezing point, and for the summer months about 70 alwvo zero, the heat of tho day being offset by cool nights that ensure refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued The winter seaeou usually begins atwut tho first of December and lasts till tho middle of I-cbrtiary or first of March, when tho 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 suflcient moisture to the ground and tempering tho atmosphere so as to assure the farmer an abundant yield. During the months of July, August and September, which are the harvesting months in this county, tho weather is usualy dry and adapted to tho successful gathering of crops. Generally enough rain falls in the autumn months to moisten tho ground sufficiently to permit the farmer to preparo tho samo for his fall grain. . . . There is no country in the United Slates more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County, as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove. The various contagions provalont in many localities ore almost wholly unknown here, and are usually very mild in their attacks w lien they do appear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in Union County sinco its settlement, and chills anil fever are totally unknown. We have no tornadoes or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and the lives of people, nor blizzards to freezo tho life out of Immunity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphero which is found est of tho Cascade Mountains. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. There Is 1,407,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County; tho rest iH unaurveyed, the unsur veyed portion being valuablo for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits, llic vallevB of the County are Grande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. Tho soil in theso valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye Timothy, Clover and Aifif vn..n..Kiu ti.i i.Vnitu uiii.ii nu A nnlM PlnrnR. 1'nnrn. Peaches. Cherries, strawberries, and it. fdt nil nf tin. atnnllfif Vftrintipu trmw in nrl PCf.Infl Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to the acre, Barloy from 40 to 70, Oats about tho samo as Barley, with exceptions in Bomo 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, oto. Tho most valuable is the Pino, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of the largor species of Tamrac, but this class of timbor is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, eto., which n nt.tstt. uiifltitwittt In uttttfilv llin aiirmiirwlmr ivtHtltrV for umH. Tho mineral resources of tho County are only jiartialv developed, but sufficient prospecting and . mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore lntcrliuo tho mountain sides, which, when sufficient capital is employed In their development, will no a groat iacior in uio general mimnmn ui t'o wealth of the County. A more detailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of tho County will bo found further on. STOCK lVIHIINGi- Tho assessment roll of the county tor tho year 1888. shows that there were 21.740 head of horses, 28.12.1 Head of Cattle. C5.BH6 Head of Sheep, and O.frtO Head of fawlne, showing of itelf that Urn County Is a great Stock Raising Region. Thousands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners thereof iv neat profit on their Investment. In fact, the stock business has leen anil still Is tho most paying of any in tho country and it bids fair to continue to be such for many years to como. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattouing In a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock hss to Im fed hav for from ono to two-mouths -during tho winter, but In many places hones will winter upon the bunch grass and do well. The cllmnto Is such that sto -k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac ter; giving to work horses a strong constitution and powerful mutclo. Thi milk caw here attains perfection. Slioep are very healthy and produce heavy (lceces. The dairying business In the lat few years has developed Into a largo and profitable one, the country being specially adapted to the business by reason of tho milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex cellent range the large quantity of hay and grain raised per acre, the healthfiilness of animals, tho large water supply and the quick market of Butter and Chosse. The Jersey, Holstino and Durham are rapidly taking tho place of the common breed of catUe, and dairymen are giving considerable attention to the breeding of tnolr cows. , , . , . It Is said more profit can be realized per year from a milk cow In this country than any other In tho United Staltw, one Instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net prollt to tho owner f 'two prMimoVlesCare In operation at the Cove, In this county, whl h make 120, f 00 pounds of cheese, worth 14 c. lits per pound, and 75,OtOK)unds butter, worth 25 cents per p . und. This year a creamery Is In operation at La Grndo, with what success remains to be seen, although no doubt can bo entertained but that it will prove to be a profitable concern. ITS MINING RESOURCES. nn f!niinv nr CWmicotila. Stiartaand Saucer. Cornucopia District is n the H-stein portion of the County, and embraces a section about leu miles square, within which there ire about (100 quartz locations. The formation Is granite and slate: the ledges lunnlug In a Southeartcriy ind Northwesterly direction. The first, locations were made hern In lf-HI. '1 ho quarts', contains bold and I are and Sliver, the gold predominating. Some of tno joucs are ireu mining, nut inoj uracranj amum ii- metal nn In consequence wlU liavo to be treated In reduction workH. A says have been made of ore from tho dlllVront groups, showing an average yield of from 25 to $10 per ton. hen the proper meth- ds are enn.loved to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will bo considered the ow mlov( l.l.-.l...l.t II... W.,ut " The Orgon Gold Mining Company, of Louisville, Ky , Is tho only company represented in the dis ttlct. It has opened up overal of Its ledges, which weie obtained at. from IU,l OU to Jj2l) 000 each. The Bed Jacket, belonging to this company, Is a well detlneU ledge, averaging about four feet .in thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, was found to be a mass of the golden metal. Ibis company has a 40-Stamp Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seve.. thou sand live hundred pounds of sulphurets were lecured tho first month of this spring s operations, behidea lininenso quantltle- or iree poiu caiigni uon iiioaiini'K'"" i""'"- . . This company's exiienses in buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., 81100 UK). Thoyhavolh progrct ami predict a second Leadvlllo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of the camp with lOp feet or more . . 1 i . II .. ...I.t,.l, .... M,. Ulimiii.iifi rrri-iiti pnnmrluilHF Hut K v. has amounted to over MO 0 it). They bavo the Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1.W-0 foot and shows better as the work roirrcssos: the Alta No. 2, which Is developed sufficiently to Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade re. The present superintendent. Professor Smith. Is hUhly pleas d with tho prospect for Ids coniiany ir iinvHinntiiniiL worn are snnwmir mi wuu. umuiut nan iu mu .... v........ ...... p. stone. Checkmate, Umpire and Buckeye, all situated on the Simmons Mountain and 'aid to bo the l est group of mines In tho camp, lso tho Blue Bell, Little Casino and Monte Chri to. situated on the f ame !:...... i.. ..vimminim nf iliHRIniinons ledues. showing Mime grade and character of ore. rho Way Up northeast of Cornucopia, bIiowh some of the rlchet ore of any in camp and Is no doubt, an extension of the Blue Bell and Simmons group. Tho Union. Companion. Ia-t Chan , Robert Kmmet, l-prest Queen. Red Boy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Steen groupe, btella, liger Hoy. Climax aud Queen of the West are all sufficiently developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying Ti... nwmmmiH nr PI m. Crock d str ct s a rich one with an. unlimited amount of ore and only lacks capital to prove Its wonderful richness. It Is destined to bo one of the richest CamTheSangeI?mfne aro operated by a San Francisco Company, which began its operations .two years ago, buying the ledges for 847,OttO and now cleaning up on an ayerave of 8,0,0X0 per month, riieje inlnes are on the road between Union and Cornucopia, shout U J miles east of Union, having a tri-weeklv mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with Union, their trad- ,,,K 'lheSparta mines are about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for tho past twenty years, still yielding lsrge returns. Tho Sparta mines are mostly placer, but quite a number or ledges have lately been found which, as far as developou, indicate good paying ore. A mill is being built here and good returns are expected from Us work. u N I O N C O U N T Y O R E G O N OXJOUT.rJTUIVT 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 becoming know-n far and wide, surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seem to rest the blue vault above. Wherever the eye gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces 800,0X0 acres of as fine Agricultural Land as can b". found on the Pacific Const. The Grande Ronde River enters its boundary on the West and flows Easterly through the center of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at its Northern limits; 110x25 miles is its length and bredlh and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at the South, Mill Creek entering at the East 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 aflb'ding abundance of water the leason round. The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich loim with clay subsoil, there being avont three Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellent graiu. The yield of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding from 25 to 0 but-hels per acre of Wheat. 4U to 100 for Oats and Barley, and Hay from 2 to 8 tons per acre; frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season. PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS. Th producing ann 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, Hears aud smalle fruits, nlo garden vegetables are raided In great quantities and marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheere is also one of our staple products. Stock raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde Valley as anywhere, stocKinen and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur poses. Taxes aro no higher on fine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but choice places can be bought at from $lo to $30 per acre, wh'ch is comparatively cheap. Many large bodies of land owned by Hinglo individuals and of the best quality can be had at very reasonable rales, which could be divided into several cood farms. TIMBER. Tho hills and mountains aro covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and easily reached. But little of the timber land has been entered or taken up. RAILROAD FACILITIES. The O. R. & N. R. R. entering the vallcv at the southern portion and following the foothills on the Southwest, passes out of the valley on the West, traversing the Southwestern boundary of the valley for a distauoe of 14 miles. The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next year from Walla Walla, W. T., through the Blue Mountans to Summerville, in tho 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. Puget Sound, W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of the Soi'ud in competition for the trad of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced by the building of tliis 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 offered anywnere in the Northwest for the home seeker er capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and iti vicinity. The resources of the valley aud its tributary sections will sustain manufacturing industries of nearly every kind, of which we now have but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the farmiug and dairying business, 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 Grands Ronde Valley and see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no instance have people, who have visited this valley given it, other,thau. the.bestof. reputation in regard to climate, soil and everything that g'oes to constitute a good country. The 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, Sumraerville 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 Uuion Couuty, la situated iu tho south crn portion of the Fertile Grnude Ronde Valley, and has the beat Nutural Locutlou for a City of any town in Kaitem Oregon. Situated, just at the banc of rolling bills on both sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparklinc stream, whose waters are pure an nature ever distilled and held suspended iu her mountain reservoirs, furnishing immense waterpower just waltltiK to be utilized by the hand of man for all kinds of manufacturing Industries. In fact the water power is amply sufficient to make Union the Lowell of Oregon If tho attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will be the case when uw blood nnil Kastern capitalists como in. This Is one of tho best places hi Oregon for the erection of mauufacturlcs. A woolen mill is greatly needed now, and some energetic capitalist who Is engaged In such business would find hero the chosen spot for such an enterprise, right In tho heart of a great wool-growing section of the country. No high freights to pay, water-power In abuudauce, aud iu fact everything that such a business would consume is pro duced hero iu the valley. The present population of Union Is about 1,200, but when the O. & W. T. rnllroad reaches here sho will double her population inside of six mouths. Eager eyes are watching to take advautago of tho present low prices in property and procure for themselves a homo where they may live In peace and plenty. Water works can be put In at very little ex pense by ruuulug a part of Catherine creek Into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all tho fall wo want from 150 feet up; no expense df keening a steam pump, aud the neeussary repairs. This mountain stream ineu waterworks are comnletoil tin found. can be, made to run directly into the reservoir and all the waste can bo utilized in furnishing power for machinery. nen onco wuicrworus are completed were win be no need lor wells, springs, etc., lor no purer drinking water can be Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We hove Iu our public school, a High School Grade. The school Is supplied with every possible convenience. Kvervthlui: is furnished h our liberal handed citizens, wlio beltrve In lrivln? their chlldrou h tirst-class education and that they can be educated in no better way than by having a No. 1 fechool at home. Tho 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 effect. An addition to tho pieseut school building Is iu contempla tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartmeuts is soon to be added. Morally and socially, Uuion is unexcelled and her hospitality Is widely known throughout the surrounding coun try. Wo 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 dlfrercut kinds, all doing a profitable business, us they supply a great agricul tural district and the numerous mining camps iu the near vicinity. We aro also supplied with several saloons, bar bershops, blacksmlthshops, etc, one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that tho most fastidious tastes of the cpicurlau cun bo fully satistled. We are i1bo supplied with two first-class livery and feed stables so that strangers coming to this town will have no trouble iu procuring a first-class team and taking a drive out into the exhilleratiug atmosphere aud feasting his eyes upon tho grandeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing iu the llfe-givlag exyggu that can bo fouud nowhere so pure us in Union Couuty. To the Kasteuer, who Is not used to mountain scenery, when first IteholdlUKour beautiful locution, his first uud Involuntary exclamation Is, "Paradise Kouud at hast." Our county Court House is well finished in every particular, having a large and commodious hall, amply sufficient to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has In connection a jail built by the Pauley llros., with ll their latest improveed cells, thus making things secure against tho escape of any prisoners that may bo coutlued thureln. Our Opera House Is puo of tho largest this slue of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains and finished in superb style. One largo and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, Is situated adjoin ing the town. Also several saw mills in the near vicinity. The lumbering interest la bound to become quite a fea ture iu our industries. Taken all In all, Union is one of tho best towns in Eastern Oregon. Heretofore sho has been kept back on account of poor railroad facilities, but wheu the Hunt System of Hailroad is completed into Union, its latent resources will be developed and it will take its place amoug Iho thriving cities of our laud. We have one of tho loveliest towus iu Oregon, and a great deal of wealth Is here ulready. All that Is now needed is for people to como and take advantage of tho great iuducomeuts soon to be thrown at tho feet of every energetic mau possessing either brains or muscle. Tho plousure-seekor or tho Invalid can find no better place to while away the summer months. Oulv threo miles away can bo fonnd Hot Springs and hakes reveling in medical virtues and curative powers the famous '"Kansas Hot Springs," ltheuinatlsm aud such complaints disappearing as if by the hand of some magician, hovers of the piscatorial art will find tho beauaiful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain and brook trout. In tho edge of the mountains largergamo may lie found, whllo ont iu the valley along the Uraudo Hondo river aro geese, swan and ducks iu abuudauce. in tho tho grain field prairie chickens aro quite plentiful. Taking all these natural advantages for pleasure aud business, we think people looking for a homo can tlud no place supplvlug all their wants better than the beautiful city of Union. Since tho much talked of Hunt Hallroad is an assured fact, property is beglunlag to advauce in prices, though at tho preseut time city lota aud blocks may bo had 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, .-- m , A WIILtSOlV & HACKETT, Who will choerfully furnish thorn with all tho information desired. TJ1YIOIY. OBEGOIV,