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.
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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