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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1890)
UNION COUNTY OREGON IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE A j) COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND. The valleys nro of an average elevation of about U,(X)0 fi'Ct nbovu sea lovel, tlio highest liioimtiiin peaks being about 11,000 feet arid continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for numerous streams the year round. THE CLIMATE In dry and healthful, there being a stillicient 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 than from two to threo weeks at a time. The mean temperature for the winter months is about 'JO degrees above freezing point, and for the summer months about 70 alove zero, the heat of the day being ollset by cool nights that ensure refreshing and invigorating Bleep and rest for the fatigued Tho winter seaKon usua.ly begins alwut. the tirHt of December and lasts till the middle of February or llrst of March, when the husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for his springs seeding. From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm and dry weatner is broken by frequent showers of rain furnishing sullcient. moisture to tho ground and tempering the atmosphere so as to assure the farmer an abundant yield. During the months of July, August and September, which are tho harvesting mouths in this county, the weather is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally enough rain falls in thu autumn months to moisten the ground sulliciently to permit tho farmer to prepare the same for his fall grain. There is no country in Uio United States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County, as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove. The various contagions prevalent in many localities aro almost wbollv unknown here, and are usually very mild in their attacks when thev do appear. Then has only been one case of Smallpox in Union County since its settlement, and chifls and lover aro totally unknown. We have no tornadoes or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and ilio lives of people, nor blizzards to freeze tho life out ol humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West of the Cascade Mountains. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. There is 1,41)7,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County ; the rest is unsurveyed, tho voyed portion being valuable for Tinnier, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The of the County aro lirande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, 1'ine and Starkoy soil in these vnlloyn is well adapted to the raising of Wheat. Oats. Parley, Rye, Timothy, Clover Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, in fact all of the smaller varieties grow to perfection. Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to the aero, Pnrloy from A) to 70, Oats about the same as Parley, with exceptions in some 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 Pine, Tamrack, Spruce, etc. Tho most valuable is the Pino, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of tint lamer species of Tanirac, but this class of timber is used cbiellv to furnish wood ties, etc., which is am unsur vallevs . The uid strawberries, and nply stilllcient to supply the surrounding country for ages. The i mineral resources of the Count v are onlv nartialv developed, but suflicient prospecting and minim: has been done to prove that great ledges of ore liiterlino tho mountain sides, which, when sulllcient capital is employed in their development, will be a great factor in the general summary of t'o wealth of the County. A more detailed account of tho Mines and Mineral Resources of the County will lie found further on. STOCK !R.A.JSIJXO. The assessment roll of the county tor tho year 1888, shows that there were 21,7-10 head of horses, 28,'2;i Head of Cuttle. f.",o1" 1 1 end of Sheep, and 5,570 llend of Swine, showing of Itself that th County is'n grentS'oek Paining Region. Thousands of head of stock aro yearly shipped, bringing to the owners tliuTcof a neatvrollt on their Investment. In farl. Ihe slock business lias been and still Is the most paying of any in the country and it bids fair to continue to be such for many years to come. The bunch grass growing upon the lulls and mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening In a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock 1ns to ho feil ha for from one to two months during tho winter, but In many places horses will winter upon the hunch grass anil do well, l'lie climate Is such that sto 1c raised is of a hardy and healthful charac ter, glvlnglo work horses a strong constitution mill powerful muscle. Tim milk caw here attains purfectlon. Sheep aro very healthy and produce heavy llcuces. The dairying business In tho las.t few years has developed into a largo and profitable one, the country being specially adapted to the bu-dncss by reason of the milk producing qualities of the grasses and t Vte ex cellent range, the large quantity of hay and g'nin raised per aero, tho healthfulness of animals, tho iargo water supply and thoiiulok niarketof Hulter ami Cheese. Tho Jersey, llolstlno and Durham are rapidly taking the place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention tolhohnedliig of their cows. It Is "aid more prollt can ba realized per year from a milk cow In this country than any other in the United Si.iies, one instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net protlt to the owner of SI75 In sides tho calf Two creameries aro In operation at tho Cove, in this county, whbh make 120,(01) pounds of cheese, worth 1 1 cents per pound, and 7o,ih ii pounds muter, worm -m cenis per pernio. Tin year a ercamerv Is In operation at l.a GiMiido, with what success remains no doubt can he entertained nut mat it win prove 10 no a prouiaoio concern. ITS MINING RESOURCES. to be seen, although The Mining Districts of Un'on County nro Ciirnucopln, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District Is In tlm E Hicrn portion of the County, and embraces a section about ten miles square, within which there are about Ml) qurt locations. The formation Ih granlloand slate; the ledges running In a Southeartorly and Northwesterly direction. Tho llrst locations were made here in 1881. The quartz contains Gold and Silver, the gold predominating. Some of tho lodes are free milling, but they generally contain base metal an in consequence wid have to be treated in reduction works. Assajs have been made of ore from the dlUVireiit groups, showing an average yield of from ?2."i to $1 0 per Ion. When the proper moth' ds are emplojed to work these ledges to the best advanttigo, Cornucopia will lie considered the New 'Kldorsdo of the West." r , . . The Or gon Gold Mining Company, of Louisville, Ky , is the only company represented in the dis trict. It. has opened up several of its ledges, which weie obtained at from IP,i 00 to $20,000 each. The Hod .1 ticket, belonging to thin company, Is a well detlneJ ledge, averaging about four feet In thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, was found to bo a mass of the golden metal. This company has a lO-Stamp Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou sand five hundred pound of sulphuri'ts were secured the llrst month of this spring's ojieratloos, besides Immense quantities of free gold caught upon the amalgam pans. This company's expenses in buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., has amounted to over SHOO (I HI. They have ino Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,500 feet ami shows better as Ihe work progresses; the Altn No. 2, which Is developed sulliciently to Indicate a well dellned ledge of high grade ore. The present superintendent, Professor Smith, Is highly pleased with the prospect for his company ami predicts a second bondvlllo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of the camp with 100 feet or more of development work are showing up well, among which nre the Simmons gn up, comprising the Key.' stone. Clicekma'c, Empire and Huckcje, all situated on the Simmons Muuutain and mid to he the 1 est group of mines In the camp, slso the Hlue Hell, Little Casino and Monte Chrl to, situated on Hie fame mountain anil extensions of the Simmon ledges, showing mine grade and character of ore. The V ay Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows home of tho rlchet ore of any In camp ami is no doubt an extension of the Ulue Hell and Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Robert Kmniet, Forest Otieou, Hed Hov, Muv Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Steen groupe, fctella, Tiger Hoy, Climax and Oueen of the West are all sullldootly developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying ore In meat ouantltlof. Tho Cornucopia or Pine ( reek district I a rich one with an unlimited amount of ore and only lucks capital to prove Its wondeiful richness. camps In existence. It is destined to be one of the richest The Sanger mines are operated by a San Francisco Company, which began Jts operations two years ago, liuylllg IIIU ledges lor fll,0' P aim now cleaning up mi mi iiniriiuu oi o iu.mii pur iiiiiiiiu. uioso mines are on the road between Union and Cornucopia, about il) miles east of Union, having a tn-weekly mail from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with Union, their trad- '"K 'l'lie Sparta mines are about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past twenty years, still Yielding huge returns. The Sparta mines are mostly placer, but quite a number of ledges have latelv been found which, as fur as developed, Indicate good paying ore. A mill is being built hero and good returns are expected from Uh work. u N I O N C O U N T Y O R E G O N Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, tho Largest, most Fertile and attractive Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Honde. whose bcantv is I ecomieg know n far and wide, surrounded by lofty mruntains upon wlibh seems to rest the blue vault above. Wherever tho eje gazes It cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces SOU.CX 0 acres of as tine Agricultural I, and as can b found on the Pacific Coast. The Grande Ronde Hiver enters its boundary on the West and Hows Easterly through tin-center of the va'lcy and thence Northerlv and out at. i s Northern limits; 110x25 miles is its length and bredlh and with Catherine Creek, the latgest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at the South, Mill Creek entering at the Eat and Willow Creek enteiing at tho North, with numerous othersmall tributaries, make the Grande Ronde Val'ey one of the best watered vallejs in Oregon, all of the above named streams aiTonling abundance of wat'T the eason round. Tho soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lonn with clay sulwoil. there being a' out three Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellent grain. The yield of Wheal, Oats, Parley. Hyp, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover Is large, the ceieals yielding from 2.1 to f.O bushels per acre of Wheat, -U.' to 100 for Oats and Barley, and Hay from a to 8 tons per acre; frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season. PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS. Th producing and export of grain and hay from Ibis valley Is large and growing in quantity each year. Resides the production of giain and hay for export, a immense quantity of fruits, including Ap ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and smade fruits, al-o garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheese is also one of our staple products. Stock raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as tine stock may bo seen noon the farms of Giande Ronde Valley as anywhere, stockmen ami farmers alwajs securing the btst oied 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 place- can be bought at from SS15 to 110 per acre, wh'ch is eoinp.?:alively cheap. Many large lmdies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality can be had at very reasonable rates, which could be divided into several irood farms. TIMBER. The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the bent 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. H. R. entering the vallev 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 mi U h. The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next jear from Wol'a Walla, W. T., through the Blue Mountaus to Snmmerville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse tho en tire length of the valley through its center to Union. Upon the building of this road tiie valley will have tho best railroad facilities. Pugct Sound, "W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of the So"nd in competition for the trade of tho Valley, the importance of which is evioenced by the building of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde Vllcy, it can' be said with out fear of contradiction, that no belter oppo'tun'tv is cllered anywneio in the Northwest for tho home seeker or capitalists than in Grande Hondo Valley and its vicjg'ty. The resources of the valley and its tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indust'hm 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 I usiness. ollcring in this lino advantages not to be found but hr very few places. The raising of thoiough bred stock is a prolltable business and there Is hardlv an individual here solely in that business at present. To visit Grande Rnnde Valley and see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no iestance 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 gDod country. The Grande Ronde Valley lias several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end of the valley, La Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest. Snmmerville in tho northern end of the valley. Cove about midway on the cast side, and Elgin in the extreme northern part of the valley. The County Peat of Union County, Is situated In the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Konde Vtilley, and 1ms the bent Natural Location for a City of any 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 as nature ever distilled and held suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing immense waterpower Just waiting to be utilized by the hand of man for all kinds of manufacturing Industries. In fact the water power ts amply suflicient 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 new blood and Kastern capitalists come In. This Is one of the best places lu Oregon for the erection of manufactories. A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and scvBie energetic capitalist who Is engaged Is 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 lu abundance, and in fact everything that such a business would consume Is pro daced here In the valley. Tho present population of Union Is about 1,200, but when the O. it W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her population luslde of six mouths. Eager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low prices In property and procure for themselves a home where they may live in eaee and plenty. Water works eau 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 wo want from If feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump and the necessary repairs. This mountain stream can be, made to run directly Into the reservoir nud all the waste can be utilized in furnishing power for machinery. When oucu w ater works are completed there will bo no need for wells, springs, etc., for uo purer drinking water eau be found, Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have lu our public school, a High School Grade. The school is supplied with every possible eouventeuce. Eveiylhlng Is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, wtio believe In giving their children a llrst-i'lass education ami that they can be educated lu no better way than by having a No. 1 School at home. The school at present Is divided Into four compartments, all thoroughly graded, students on completing the pre scribed course of study receive n certilleate to that elleet. All addition to the pieseut school building is in contempla tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is toon to lie added. Morally and socially, I'nion is unexcelled und her hospitality is widely known throughout the surrmiudiug coun try Wo hae four churches, all in a nourishing condition. There are six secret societies, doing much good to hu mahlty. We have a number of stores of d liferent kinds, all doing a profitable business, as they supply n great agricul tural district and the numerous milling camps in the near vielnity. We are also supplied witli several saloons, bar bershops, hlucksmlthshops, etc., one principal hotel mid several restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes of tho epleuriall cn be fully siitislUd, We lire also supplied with two flrst-ehs livery und feed stables so that strangers coming to lhls town will have no trouble in procuring a flrst-chus team and taking a drive out into the e.xhllleratlng atmosphere and feasting hts ees upon tlm grandeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing in the llfe-glvlug oxygen that can be found nowhere so pun- as in I'nion County. Totlu" Eiistenv. w ho is not used to mountain scenery, when tlrst iH'holdlngour beautiful lomtlou. his lirst and Involuntary exclamation Is, "I'aiadlse Found at Last." Our county Court House is well finished in ecry particular, having a large ami commodious linll, amply suflicient to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has in connection a jail built by the l'auley llros., with nil their lutest Iniproveed cells, thus making things secure agaln.-r the escape of any prisoners that may bo confined thureiu. Our Opera House is one of the largest this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains and finished in superb style. One large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller proees, with all modern improvements, is situated adjoin tugthetown. Alsosooral tun mills in the near vicinity. The luniberiug interest is bound to become unite a fea ture in our industries. Take n all in all, Union Is one of the best towns lu Eastern Oregon, Heretofore she has been kept back on acouut of poor railroad facilities, hut wheu the Hunt System of Itallroud is completed into Union, Its latent resources w ill bo developed and it will lake Its place among the thriving cities of our laud. We hao one of tho loveliest towns in Oregon, and a great dial of wealth is here already. All that Is now needed is for people, to come and take udvaiituge of the great inducements soon to be thrown at tho feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muscle. The pleasure-seeker or tho invalid can find no better place to w hile away the summer months, only three miles away can lie found Hot Springs and hakes reveling in medical virtues ami curative powers tho famous "Kansas Hot springs," Kheumatlsni and such complaints disappearing as if by the hunt of some magician. Ixivurs of the piscatorial art will tlnd the beaualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain ond brook trout. In tho edge of the mountains largcrgame may be found, while out iu the valley along the Grande Kottdo river are geese, swan nud ducks in abundance, lu the the grain Held prairie chickens are ijuito plentiful. Taking all these natural advantages for pleasure and business we think people looking for a home can find uo place supplying all their wants better than the beautiful elty of Union. since Ihe much talked of Hunt Itallroad Is an assured fact, property Is beginning to advance In prices, though at the present time city luts nud blocks muy be had at very reasonable rates. THE UNION REAL ESTATE OGIATI ON Now has in its possession tracts of land suitable for small farms, or they could be laid off into blocks. This asso- utciuun nub tui r tuu m uu u iirm uubib, iiuvmg wiuun ut puwer mutant ui iiuiiuimg piuucny lu u uuuer advantage than any firm in Union County. They already have numerous tracts adjoining the city; farms, loc, 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. Who will uhoerfully furnttfh thorn with nil tho Information desired.