UNION
COUNTY
OREGON
1
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND,
The valleys are of nn average elevation of about 2,000 feet nhovu pea level, the highest mountain
penkH being about 0,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams thoyear round.
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 tho depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer than from
two to threo weeks at a time.
Tho mean temperature for the winter months is ahout 20 degrees above freezing joint, and for
the slimmer months about 70 alovo zero, the heat of tho day being oflset by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
The winter Beacon usually begins alout tho first of December and lasts til) 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, the monotony of warm and dry weatlieris 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 montlis of July, August and September, which aro tho harvesting months in this
county, tho weather is usualy dry and adapted to tho successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in thtt autumn months to moisten tho ground sufficiently to permit tho farmer to
prepare the sumo for his fall grain.
There is no country in Mio United States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County,
as the vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
Tho various contagions prevalent in many localities aro almost wholly unknown here, and aro
usually very mild in their attackp w hen thev do appear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills and over aro totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and tho lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do wo have tho fogy find damp atmosphero which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1,407,500 Acres of Surveyed Iand in tho County; tho rest is unsurveyed, tho unsur
voyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of tho County aro Grando Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Uig Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. Tho
soil in those valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, I'luins, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of tho smaller varieties grow to perfection.
Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to f0 bushols to the acre, Barley from -10 to 70, Oats about tho same
as Barley, with exceptions in some localities, whon 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 Pino, Tamrack,
Spruce, etc. Tlio most valuable is tho Pino, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
the larger species of Tamrao, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is umnly suflicient to supply tho surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of tho County aro only nartialy developed, but suflicient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore futerlino tho mountain sides, which, when
suflicient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tho general summary of
t'o wealth of tho County. A more detailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of tho
County will bo found further on.
STOCK R-AXtSIIVO.
Tho assessment roll of the county lor the year 1888, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
'28,113.'! Head of Cuttle. 55,fi5 Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of itself that tlm County
Is a great Stock Raining Region. Thousands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof a neat pro lit on their investment.
In fact, the stock business lias been nnd still is the most paying f any in the country and it
bids fair to continue to be such for many years to come. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock tins
to be fed 'hit for from one to two mouths during the winter, but in many places horses will winter upon
the bunch grass and do well. The climate is such that sto k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, giving to work horses a strong constitution and powerful muscle.
The milk cow hero attains perfection, Sheep are very heulthy and produce heavy fleeces. The
dairying business In the last few years has developed into a large and profitable one, the country being
specially adapted to the buHiness by reason of tho milk producing qualities of the grasses and tke ex
cellent range, the large quantity of hay and giain raised per acre, tho healthfulness of animals, tho
large water supply and tlio quick market of Hut ter and Cheese. Tho Jersey, llolstine and Durham are
rapidly taking tlio place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen aro giving considerable attention
to the breeding of their cows. ,
It Is said more profit can be realized per year from a milk cow in this country than any other in the
United Stales, one instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net profit to tho owner
of $175 ben I l. is the calf
Two en aiueries are in operatUn at the Cove, in this county, which make 12(!,r00 pounds of cheese,
worth II cents per jxHind, uud 75,01 0 imiuihIs butter, worth 23 cents per pound.
This year a creamery is in operation at La Grande, with what success remains to bo seen, although
no doubt can be entertained but that it will prove to be a profitable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining Districts of Un'on County are Cornucopia, Sparta nnd Sanger. Cornucopia District is
in tho K stent portion of the County, and embraces a section about ten miles bquure, within which there
aro about (U)U quartz locations. The formation In granite and slate; the ledges running in a Southeartorly
and Northwesterly direction. The first, locations were made here in 1884. The quartz contains Gold null
Silver, tho gold predominating. Some of tho lodes are free milling, but they generally contain base
metal nn In consequence will have to bo treated in reduction works. Assaya have been made of ore from
tho dilFxrout groups, showing an average yield of from $25 to $1 0 per ton. When tho proper methods
are employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will bo considered the New
"Eldorado of tho West."
The Ongon Gold Mining Company, of Louisville, Ky , Is tho only company represented in tho dis
trict. It has opened upoveral of its ledges, which weie obtained at from fclU.t'Ou to $20,000 each.
The Red Jacket, belonging to iIiIh company, is a well defined ledgo, averaging about four feet in
thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, was found t. be a mass of tlio golden metal. This
company has a 40-Stamp Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Sovou thou
sand live hundred pound" of sulphuretn were Hccured the first mouth of thU spring's operations, besides
immense quantities of free no Id caught upon tho amalgam pans.
This company's expenses In hulldingH. machinery, reads, developments, etc., has amounted to over
81100 OJO, They have the Whitman, which has a abaft sunk over 1,500 feet and shows better as tho work
progresses; tho Attn No. 2, which Is developed sufllciently to indicate a welldetlued ledge of high grade
ore. Tho present superintendent. Professor Smith, Is hiuhly pleased with tho prospect for his company
and predicts a second Leadvillo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of the camp with 100 feet or more
of development work are showing up well, among which are tho Simmons group, comprising tho Key.
stone, Checkiua'e, Umpire and Huckeye, all situated on the Simmons Mountain and 'aid to be the best
group of mines in tho camp, lso the lllue Hell, Little Canine and Monte Chrl-to, situated on the fame
mountain and extensions of tho Simmons ledges, showing same grade and character of ore. Tho Way
Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of the richest ore of any in camp and is no doubt an extension
of tho Hluo Hell and Simmons group. Tho Union, Companion, Last Cham e, Hobert Emmet, Forest
Queen, Red Hoy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Hoy, Climax
and Queen of the Went are all sullleluntly developed to show them to be good ledges and contain paying
ore in great quantities. The Cornucopia or I'lne Creek district is a rich one witli an unlimited amount
of ore and only lacks capital to prove Its wonderful richness. It Is destined to be one of Uie richest
camps In existence.
The Sanger mines are operated by a San Francisco Company, which began Its operations two yearn
ago, buying tho ledges for $17,000 and now cleaning up on an averaue of 870,000 per month. These
mines are on the road bet.wreu Union and Cornucopia, aliout.'VJ miles east of Union, having a tn-weekly
mail from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with Union, their trail
ing point.
The Sparta mines aro about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding large returns. Tho Sparta mines are mostly placer, but quite a number of
ledges have lately been found which, as far as developed, Indicate good paying ore. A mill is being
built here and good returns are expected from its work.
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AGRICULTURAL Ij TJSrfcEJU!.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
alley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Ronde. whose beauty is recoiuing known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vnult above. Wherever the eye
gazes it cannot help being enchanter) hv our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces 300,01.0 acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as can b found on the Pacific Const.
The Grande Ronde Hlver 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; 30x25 miles is its length and bredth
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at the South,
Mill Creek entering at the Kat 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 affording abundance of watnr the eason round.
The soli of this valley is principally a black, rich lomi 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, Harley, Rye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to 60 bui-hels per acre of Wheat 40 to 100 for Oats and Harley, and Hay from 2 to 8 tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Tim 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 i immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and smalle fruits, alo garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheexe is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engairea in largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde
Valley as anywhere, stockmen and fanners always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on fine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice places can be bought at from $15 to 80 per acre, wh'ch is comparotively cheap. Many largo
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality can be had at very reasonable rates,
which could be divided into several food 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 land 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.
Tho Hunt Railroad system will beoxtended during the next year from Walla Walla, W. T., through
the Blue Mountans 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 tho 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
Sound in competition for the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced bv the building
of tkls second line of road. In concluding this description of Granrte Ronde Valley, it can be said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is offered any wnere in the Northwest for the home
seeker er capitalist than in Grande Ronde Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and 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 farming and dairying business,
offering in this line advantages not to be found but in very few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a protl table business and there is hardly an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande 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 than the best of reputation In regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a gjod 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
UNION,
Tlie County Sett of Utifou County, Is situated in the southern portion of tin- Fertile Grande Koude Valley, and has
the best Natural Location for a City of auy town in Eastern Oregon. Situated, just at the base of rolling hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters are pure us nature ever distilled and held
suspended iu her mountain reiervoirs, furnlshlug immense waterpower just waiting to be utilized by the hand of
man for all kiuds of manufacturing industries. In fact the water power is amply sufflelent to make Union the lxiwell
of Oregon If the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned In that direction, which will be the case when new
blood and Eastern capitalists come in. This Is one of the best places iu oregou for the erection of manufacturles
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and some energetic capitalist who Is engaged Ih 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 pay, water-power in abundance, and iu fact everything that such a business would consume Is' i.ro
dnced here In the valley.
The 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 mouths. Eager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low prices iu property and
o uumc ucio wr, iuaj me iu peace aim plenty, water works can bo put iu at very little ex-
the fall
cau be, made to run directly into the reservo r and all the wast hi, l... ntiiw.wi t,; i.tA.iXi.. J'"'"1" B,lrlum
found.0"" wu,erworl" "re Pll "e "ill ba no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinng vauVcatrbe
i.mucuuo titci iuio i nrRe reservoir on mo mil Unct o orn, This will irlvnnll
we want-from 160 feet up: no expeuso of Weeping a steam pump and tho necessary repairs. This mouutaii
cau be, made to run directly into the reservoir and all the waste can bo utilized in i furnish ng power f
foufd 0"Ce wuterworl" "re completed there will ba no need for wells, springs, etc., for no , ur"rurnklu S
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have iu our public school, a High School Grade. Tho school is sunnKmi
with every possible convenience. Everything Is furuished'by our libera handed citizens, wl o believe Tin clviui th,
children a flrst-cjass education and that they can be educated in no better w ay than by having a No 1 fee l ool a lom .
Uhe school at preseut is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded. Studei s Ton t'omoletiuAh,. irn
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that etlect. An addition to the present school bulldliU
tlou, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to bo added. 18 111 conttmpla-
Morally and socially, Union Is unexcelled and her hospitality Is widely known throughout tho gurrniinilliiir n,.
rr i)Ve ll"ve'0Ur churches, all in a flourishing condition'. There are six secret socleit", 3 raid tnh "
iV.!Mi,,?r . V t '".f uumb of B,or;, different kinds, all doing a profitable business a they sm.l.h' a cfeat a lHp . "
tural district and the numerous mining camps iu the near vicinity. We aro also sunnlleA win, l.1.. ?,, i K S urlFu1'
bersho-s, bl.ck.miUjshops, etc., one principal hotel and several Restaurants, so ibiimoit UMMow talnTA
eplcurfau can be fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two llrst-class livery ami feed 1 stables so ?h it,
comlug to this town will have no trouble in procuring a first-class team and taking a drive out into tV l, wH
atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing It he II&lMv
that cau be found nowhere so pure as in Union County, To the Kastenv. who is not us. i i,. i...... LY. 1 K exBen
first beboldlugour be.utifsl lo'o-tlou. his first and inoluulary oielanmt o M""
Our county Court House is well llnished in every particular, having a large aiideoi ..
o accommodate any and a I audiences, it also has In connection a jail built bv the l'su y ff with , i, Ji? CJ,e,"J
improveed ce Is. thus making things secure again.-rthe escape of any prisoners' tat may bo cmithied tJS n
Opera House Is cue of the largest this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated urtalni ,V,i V 1 J"",1?1"- 0u.r
style One large and eommoSlous Flouring Mill, full roller process, w JuVa modern in pro emeu i "iii MidX
Takeu all in all, Uulon Is one of the best towns In Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has l..m. i,i
of poor railroad facilities, but when the Hunt System of Katlroad Is coin. 5 iuU) UmIot f Iu laten nP,o?,L. a,C?iT',nt
developed and it wil take its place amoug the thriving cities of our land. We have one of the lnt?.ii. ,U
Oregon, and a great deal of wealth Is here already All that Is now needed is for Veonlo to p, .L . 8t owu'' ,n
of the great Inducements soou to be thrown at the feet o every eueriet c i man uossesrnc . M ?hr.?i i ,ake ad,vuage
The pleasure-sovker or the invalid can tlud no rx-tter place to while a .,
away cau bo found Hot Sprlugs and Lakes reveling In medical virtues and curative i owJm H e c!
Si',rlvfiV.ll.h.e,UU,,,Um.?u,a ufHPllnU disappearing as if by the hand of so" e maglelan livmSf tho tflSffni'iSi
art will find the beaualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mouutai and hnw.v ,? 1 i1.08'
edge of the mouutalus largergame may be found, while out in tho valley aloiig tlio (iraudo 1 oude 1 "h.,1" tho
swan and ducks in abuudauce. in tho the gralu Held prairie chickens are unite p eut Iful Tat i ?J r all r?,Cl
be' ter"uTu he b ."X S We ,h,U" ,00k,UC '0r huulu euu fl'" - " aVlTelr"
hlnco the ;much i talked of Huut Kailroad is an assured fact, property is beginning to advance In rlo... t !,,., ...
the present time city lots aud blocks may be had at very reasonable rates. l,,,"u,", lo BUvauce lu prices, though at
THE UNION REAL ESTA TE ASSOGAT I ON
asso
Now has in its possession tracts of land suitable for small farms, or they could be laid off into blocks Th'
viuuum iius oiaiicu in vii u Him uaai&, iiuving wumii us powerme means oi nandling property to a better aHva
than any firm in Union County. They already have numerous tracts adjoining the city: farms blocks vantage
be sold on very reasonable terms or for cash. ' ' elc" to
Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the manarc fU
association, .. "agers oi mis
jVILSOIST & HACKETT,
Who will cheerfully furnish them with all tho information dcairod. UIVIOIV, OHEGrQlV,