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.
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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,