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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1889)
COUNTY OREGON 9 UNION IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE AND COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND, The vallevH nroof nn nverairo elevation of about 2,000 feet above pea level, the highest mountain jhiK about 0,000 feet and continually covered with snow, winch furnishes a wi peaks being numerous streams the year round. vater Bupply for 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 then from two to three weeks at a time. ' The mean temperature for the winter months is about '20 degrees above freezing point, and for tho summer months about 70 above 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.lv begins alwut tlfo first of December and lasts till the middle of obrunry or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opiortunity 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 suficient moisture to the ground and tempering the atmosphere so as to assure the farmer an abundant vield. . . . During the months of July, August and September, which are tho harvesting months m this county, the weather is usualy drv and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally enough rain falls in the autumn months to moisten the ground sufficiently to permit the farmer to prepare the same for his fall grain. , . There is no country in tfio United States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County, as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove. Tho various contagions prevalent, in many localities aro almost wholly unknown here, and are usually very mild in their attacks w lieu thev do appear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in Union County since its settlement, and chills ami fever aro totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and the lives of people, nor blizzards to freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do we havo tho fogy and damp atmosphere which is found est of the Cascade Mountains. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. Thcro is 1,407,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in tho County; tho rest is unsurvcyed, the unsur veyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and qbounding in Mineral Deposits, lhu valleys of tho County aro Grande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Uig Creek, Kaglc, Pine ami Starkoy. The soil in these valloys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Timothy, Clover and Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, bucIi as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and in fact all of the smaller varieties grow to perfection. The yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to tho aero, Barley from 40 to 0, Oats about tho same as Barley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to the acre. Tho Mountains aro covered with a Fino Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, lamraek. Spruce, etc. The most valuable is the Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also somo of the larger species of Tamrae, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which is amply suiiicient lo supply mo surrounding country iur ukub. .1 ...3 .... JR.it... nvADtmnf iti ii.i. 1 The mineral resources oi tiiouounty aro omy paruniv uuveiupin, uui, ouuh-ibui nuov mining has been done to prove that great ledgos of ore interlino the mountain sides, which, when suiiicient 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 the Mines and Mineral Resources of the County will bo found further on STOCK RAISING. The assessment roll of tho county tor the year 1888, bIiows that there were 21.7-11) head of horses, 28.12.1 Head of Cnttlo. 55.BU5 Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of Itself that the County Is a great Stock liaising lleglon. Thousands of head of stock aro yearly shipped, bringing to the owners tlioreof a neat profit on their Investment. . In fact. Die stock husirtusH lias been nnd still Is tho most paying of any In tho country and It bids fair to continue to be such for many yar to come. The hunch grass growing upon the hills and mountains Is vurv nutritious, stock fattening In a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock his to b fed ha for 'from ono to two months during the winter, but In niany places horses will winter upon the bunch grass anil do well, f ho eliniato Is such that sto k raised Is of a hardy and healthful charac ter, giving to work horses a strong constitution and powerful muscle. Tho milk cow horU attains perfection. Sliuep aru very healthy and produce heavy fleeces. The dairying business In the last few yours lias developed into a large ami i miiiuwio uiiu, uiu country specially adapted to the business by reason of tho milk producing miafltles of the grasses and the ex cellent iangi the largo quantity of hay utrd g-uin lalsed per acre, the healthfulness of animals, the large water supply and the quick market of Butter and Cheese. Tho Jersey, Holslino and Durham are lot mo common urecu ui raiuo, nun uuiijhicii mu h"k i,uiiui,iiiuiuhvuuuii rapidly taking too pmce to tho breed! g of their cows. . . , . It Is sal I more prollt can In realized per year from a milk cow in this country than any other in the United States, ono instance being given of a single cow for ono year, yielding a net prollt to the owner of 8175 besl es the calf .... . ,, , ,.,.., , i Two r amerles are In oporatUn at tho Cove, In this county, whlrh make 120,f0l) pounds of cheese, worth II t ents per pound, and 75.W0 pounds butter, worth 2i cents pur p mnd. This year a creamery is in operation at La Grendo, with what success remains to be seen, although nn doubt can bo entertained but that It will prove to he a profitable concern. ITS MINING RESOURCES. The Mining Districts of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia 1) str in tho 15 stern portion of the County, and embraces a section about, leu m Its square, w lthin which are about (100 qti-rtz locations. The formation in granileand slate; the ledges limning in a S.utheai and Northwesterly direction. The first locations were made hern in l&SJ. 't he quartz contains Goli Silver, the gold predominating. Cornucopia District is within wlilcli tnere eartorly old and Snnio of tliu lode are free milling, but they generally contain base motal'iin In consociuoneo wi'l have to bo treated in reduction w iks. Assaj b have been made of ore from i... ,un.r...,i ..-..mm Mi.nwiinr mi nvemifo vlfldof from 25 to Sl-0 por ton. When tho proper methrds aro employed to work these ledge to the best advantage, Cornucopia will be considered the New 'Hldorado of the West." ...... , ... i . i n n Tho Or gon Gold Mining Company, of Louisville, Ky , Is tho only company represented In the dls flct. It has opened up several of Its ledges, which woie obtained at from SIO.COO to 20 000 each. Tho Hed Jacket, belonging to this company, Is a well donned ledge, averaging about four feet in thickness and when struck on tho lowest tunnel, was found to ho a mass of the go den metal, ilus company ha a 40-rHamp Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou sand five hundred pounds of sulphurets were secured the first month of this spring s operations, betidus immense quantities of free pom caugnt upon ine amaigam pans. t'ltlnnmaiilu tt n lina ntiinillllnil in m'AP Tills company s expenses in iiiiiiiiiiiku. iimiiiniioij, ., .. ,w 5? 00 Ok). They havo the Whitman, wuit-ii nai mm a m i.. ...... """ .. " " " nrotrroasos' the Alia No. 2, which is developed suiiicient ly lo Indicate a well defined ledgo of high grade ore. Tho present superintendent. Professor Smith. Is hluhly pleased with the prospect for his company and predicts a second Leadvlllo of Cornucopia, many otner leiiges oi ine cauip wiiii iuu it-ut or iiioro of de velopment work aro showing up well, anion which are t he Simmons group, coinpr slug the Key Htone Chockma'e Umpire and BucVejo, all situated on tho Simmons Muuntain and Mild to be the best group of mines in the camp, lso the Blue Hell, Little Casino and Monte Chrl to, situated on the f ame " " A... i i..-. A u... si..imnim l.w?LrnH. show nu Hameirrado and character of ore. 'lho Way HltlllllWIIII mil! uait-ih nucopla, shows some of the richest ore of any In camp and U no doubt an extension Simmons group. Tho Union, Companion. Last Chan, e, Robert hnimet, I'orest y Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Hoy. Climax Up northeast of Cornucopia or the Illue Hell ami s 4. ,v '. .r. .'. w't ..... nii'uni..in,,H .Invulmil tn show them to be irood Indues and contain paying ore in great quantities. The Cornucopia or Pino Creek district U a rich ono with an unlimited amount of ore and only lacks capital to prove Its wonueriui ricnneBH. camps in exit-tcuce. Tho sangar mines nre ojiprateu It Is destined to be ouo of tho richest bv a San Francisco Company, which began Its operations two years ago. buying the ledges for $47,1X 0 and now cleaning up on an averaao of 8(0.000 per mouth. I hee mines are on the road between Union and Cornucopia, about 3'J miles east of Union, hav ng a tn-weeklr f:.. it..i., rnm..miU ilniK tHdiiir i) aced In direct communication with Union, their trad- mail 1 1 w 1 1 1 uiiiuii w im v-.") ' '"K TheSnarta mines aro axmt. eight miles southeast of Sanger and havo been worked for the past twenty years, still yloldlug Urge returns. The Spart mines are mostly placer, but quite a number of ledges have latelv been found which, as fsr as developed, Indicate good paying ore. A mill Is being built here and good returns are expected from lta work. u N I O N C O U N T Y O R E G O N AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive Valley of Union County, Is tho Famous Grando Ronde. whose beauty is I ecomlng known far and wide, surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vult above. Wherever the eye gazes It cannot help being enchanted by our Iwautiful scenery. This valley embraces 300,010 acres of as fine Agricultural Land as can b- found on the Pacific Cbnst. The Grande Hondo River enters Its boundary on the West and flows Easterly through the center of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at i's Northern, limits; 30x25 miles Is its length and hredth and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at the South, Mill Creek entering at the Fast and Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small trlbutaiies, make the Grande Ronde Val'ey one of the best watered valleys In Oregon, all of tho above named streams alTo'ding abundance of water the 'eason round. The soil of tills valley is principally a black, rich loni with clay subsoil, there being aout three Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellent grain. The yield of Wheat, Oats, Parley. Rye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding from 25 to 0 bmheN per acre nf Wheat. 4 (J 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 anH export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each year. Resides the production of grain and hay for export, a immense quantity of fruits, including Ap ples. Plums, Prunes, 1'earn and sinalle fruits, alo garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and marketed in the neighboring sections. Hutter and Cheee 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, stocKmen and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur poses. Taxes aro no higher on flue than poor stock. The lauds of this valley have all been taken, but choice places can le bought at from 815 to 30 per acre, which is comparatively cheap. Many large bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality cau be had at very reasonable rates, which could be divided into several cood farms. 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. R. & N. R. R. entering the valley 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 distance of 14 miles. The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next j ear from Wal'a Walla, WT. T., through the Blue Mouutans to Summerville, 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. Puget Sound, W. T is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and tho cities of the So'-nd in competition fur the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evioenced by the building of this second lino of road. In concluding this'dee-cription of Grande Ronde Vslley, it cui be t-aid w ith out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is ollered anywnere in the Northwest for the home seeker er capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and its tributary sections will sustain manufacturing industiies of nearly every kind, of which we now have but very few. It wiil sustain ten times the population it now has in the farming and dairying t usiness. offering 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 Rondo Valley snd see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no ir stance have people, who havo visited this valley given it other than the best of reputation in regard to climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a gDod 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. Summerville 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 Sent of Union County, Is situated in the southern portlou of the Fertile Grande Honde Valley, and has the best Natural Location for a City of any town in Kasteru Oregon. Situated, just at the Imse of rolling hills on both sides of Catharine Creek, n beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held suspended In her mountain reservoirs, furnishing immense waterpowcr just waiting to be utilized by the baud of man for all kinds of mauufacturlng industries. In fact the water power is amply suiiicient to make Union the Lowell of Oregon if the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will be the ease when new blood and Kasteru capitalists come in. This Is one of tho best places in Oregon for the erection of mauiifacturics. A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and some energetic capitalist who is eugaged in such business would find here the chosen spot for such an enterprise, right in the heart of a great wool-growing section of the country. No high freights to tny, water-power in abundance, snd in fact everything that such a busluess would consume is pro duced here In the valley. The present population of Unlou is about 1,200, but when the O. A W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her population Inside of six mouths. Kager eyes are watching to take advantage of tho present low prices In property aud procure for themselves a homo where they may live lu peace aud plenty. Watec works can be put In at very little ex pense by running apart of Catherine creek Into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This- will give all the fall we want from lf0 feot up; no expense of keening a steam pump aud the uecessary repairs. This mountain stream cau be; made to run directly into the reservoir aud all the waste can be utilized in furnishing power for machinery. When unco water works are completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can be found. Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have In our public school, a High School Grade. The school Is supplied with every possible convenience. Kerything is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, who believe in givlui their children a first-class education and that they can be educated in no better way thau bv liming a So, 1 .School at home. Tho school at present Is divided into four rpmpartmeuts, all thoroughly graded. Students on completing the pre scribed course of study receive a certificate to that etlect. An addition to the pieseiit school building is in contempla tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to be added. Morally and socially, Union is unexcelled and her hospitality is widely known throughout the surrounding conn try. We have four churches, all in a flourishing condition. There are six secret societies, doing much good to hu manity. We have a number of stores of different kinds, nil dolug a profitable business, as they supply a great agricul tural district and the numerous mining eamps in the near vicinity. We are also supplied with several saloons, bar bershops, blaclamithshups, etc., one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that the most fastidious lastes of the eplcurian can be fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two flrst-class livery and feed stables so that strangers coming to this town will have no trouble in procuring a llrst-class team and taking a drive out into the exhillerating atmosphere aud feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain sceuerv, aud breathing in the life-giviag exygeu that can be found nowhere so pure as In Uuiou Count)-. To the Easteuer, who is not used to mountain sceuerv. when first beholdIniour beautiful loiwtlon, his lirst and involuntary exelamatiou is, "Paradise Found at I ast " Our county Court House is well finished in every particular, having a large and commodioushall, amply sufficient to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has in connection a jail built by the Pauley llros,, with all their latest improveed cells, thus nuking things secure against tho escape of any prisoners that may be confined thureiu. Our Opera House is one of th largest this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains aud finished in superb style. One largo and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, is Bituated adjoin ing the towu. Also several saw mills in the near vicinity. The lumbsriug interest is bound to become ouito a fea ture in our industries. Taken all in all, Union is ouo of the best towns In Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has beeu kept back on account of poor railroad facilities, but when the Hunt System of Railroad is completed into Union, its latent resources will be uun.ui nuu n nui mc us piuce niuuug me luriviug vines oi our lanu. we nave one of the loveliest towns In Oregou, and a great deal of wealth is here already. All that is now needed is for people to come and take advantage of the great inducements soon to be thrown at the feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muscle illes Hot catorlal . . tho swan and ducks in abmmlauce. Iu the the grain field prairie chlckeus are quite plentiful. Taking all these uaturai advantages for pleasure and business, we think people looking for home can find no place supplying all their wants better than the beautiful city of Unlou. ' blnce the much talked of Hunt IUUroad is an assured fact, property Is beginning to advance in prices, though at the preseut time city lots and blocks may be bad at very reasonable rates. um luimuu-icrniT ur mo uiviiiu rii uuu uo whit pun' 10 wnim away me summer months. Only three n ) i jw luuuu nui apriugs ami Mixes reveung in rnctucai Tinues auu curative powers the famous -'Kaunas 1 !fii' "neuiBBtism ana siicn compiaiuis oisappearing as n uy tne btttiu of some magician. Lovers of the pi nn mil iiim um uinumimi ijnikiius naii-rs ui L aiiieriuu tree, aiive wiin tue gamy mountain auu brook trout. In ..(1 I3 lf t ,1 n .1, .... ,1 I . 1 ..... i, a .n ... I... ....! ...kiln ma. In . V. ....11 I .. . i THE UNION REAL ESTATE ASSO CATION lis asso- I vantage i, etc., to be sold on very reasonable terms or tor casn. Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the managers of this association, i-wt- A-w-r mmm XJIVIOIV, OREGON, Who will cheerfully furnish thorn with all the information desired. J