UNION
COUNTY
OREGON
5
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
A ' 1
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND.
Tlio valleys arc of mi average elevation of about ",000 feet uImjvc sea level, the highest mountain
peaks being about (1,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams tho year round.
THE CLIMATE
Is dry and healthful, there being a BiTdlcient rainfall to preserve the inoiHturo of the Boil and mature
cropH. 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 tho winter months is about 'JO degrees above freezing point, and for
tho summer months about 70 altove zero, the heat of tho day being ofi'set by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
The winter season usua.ly begins alout the llrsl of December and lasts till the middle of February
or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for his springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, tho monotony of warm and dry weatlioris broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing sullcient moisture to tho ground and tempering tho atmosphere "so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield.
During tho months of July, August and September, which aro tho harvesting months in this
county, the weathor is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in thu autumn months to moisten the ground sufliciently to permit tho farmer to
prepare the same for his fall grain.
There is no country in tho United States more blessed by a healthful elimato than Union County,
as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The various contagions provalont in many localities are almost wholly unknown here, and are
usually very mild in their attacks when thev do appear. There has only been ono case of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills and fever aro totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and tho lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do wo have tho fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
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There is l,-l!7,o0() Acres of Surveyed Iand in the County ; the rest is unsurvoyed, the
voved portion beinn valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The
of tho. County are Clnuido Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. Tho
soil in these valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Hurley, Rye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of the smaller varieties grow to perfection.
The yield of Wheat is from 'J" to 50 bushels to the acre. Barley from -10 to 70, Oats about tho same
Hurley, with exceptions in some localities, whon as high as 100 bu&hels of oats has been raised to
i acre. Tho Mountains are covered with a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tamraek,
Spruco, etc. The most valuable is the Pine, which is used in the lumbering industry, also some of
the larger species of Tainrac, but this class of timber is used chietly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sullleiont to supply the surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of tho County are only nartialy developed, but suflicient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great ledges ol ore Interline tho mountain sides, which, when
sullleiont capitid is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tho general summary of
t'u) wealth of the County." A more detailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of the
County will be found further on.
STOCK ItA-ISIIVOi.
The assessment roll of thu county lor tho year IHS8, shows that there were 21. 7-10 head of horses,
H8,Vi Head of Cuttle, r5,K"r Head of Sheep, and r,57l Head of. Swine, showing of itself that the County
Is ii great.SlocU Raising Region. Thousand of head of slock are yearly shipped, bringing to thy owners
theu'of a neat prollt on their investment.
In fact, the stock business hits been and still is the most paying of any in the country and it
bids fair to continue to he such for many years to come. The hunch grans growing upon tho hills and
mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock bus
to be fed liar for from one to two mouths during the winter, lint in ninny places horses will winter upon
tho hunch grass and do well, l'hu climate is such that sto k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, irlvlng4o work horses a strong constitution and powerful muscle.
Tho milk cow bore attains perfection. Sliot?i are very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. Tho
dairying business In tho hist few years has developed into a largo and prolltahlo one, tho country being
specially adapted to the business by reason of the milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex
cellent range, tho large quantity of hay and grain raised per acre, thu heallhfulness of animals, thu
largo water supply and tliooulolc market of Hotter and Cheese. Tho Jersey, Holstluu and Durham aro
rapidly taking lint place of thu common breed of cattle, and dairymen aro giving considerable attention
to tho breeding of their cows.
It Is said moro prollt can ba realized per year from a milk cow in this country than any other in tho
United Stales, ono instance being given of u single cow for ono year, yielding a net prollt to the owner
of 9175 besides the calf
Two reamerlos are In operation at the Covo, in this county, which inako l'JU.rOl) pounds of cheese,
worth I I cents per pound, and 7o,( 0 pounds butter, worth li-T cents pur pound.
This year a creamery is in operation at i.a Grsndo, with what, success remains to bo seen, although
no doubt, can be entertained but that it will prove to ho a prolltahlo concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining Districts of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In thu Kstern portion of the County, and embraces a section about ten miles square, within which there
aro about Mil qimrtz locations. The formation Ih granite and slate; tho ledges running in a Sotithearterly
and Northwesterly direction. The Ilrst locations were made here in Ifc'Kl. Tho quartz contains Gold and
Silver, tho gold predominating. Some of tho lodes aro free milling, but they generally contain base
motal an In consequoueu will have to he treated in reduction works. Assays have been made of oie from
tho dlUVront groutis, showing an average yield of from Jf'-.'i to 0 pur ton. When tho proper methods
are employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will bu considered tho New
'Hldorodo of tho West."
Tho Oregon Gold Mining Company, of LouUvillo, Ky , Is the only company represented In tho dis
trict. It has opened upfovornl of I'b ledges, which weie obtained at from 8II,'00 to $20,000 each.
Tho Red Jacket, belonging to this company, is a mill defined ledge, averaging about four feet in
thickness and whon struck on the lowest tunnel, was found to bo a mass of tho golden metal. This
company has a 40-Stainp Mill running night and day upon tho oro taken from this ledge. Suvou thou
sand ilvo hundred pound of sulphur ts were secured the ilrst month of this spring's operations, besides
immense quantities of free Mold caught upon the amalgam pans.
This company's expenses In buildings, machinery, roads, developments, otc, has amounted to over
?:i00 0 10. They have llio Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,500 feet and shows better as tho work
progresses; tho Alta No. '2, which is developed sullleiently to indicate a well deliuud ledge of high grade
ore. The present superintendent. Professor Smith, is highly pleased with the prospuct for his company
and predicts a second l.eadvillo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of tho camp with 100 feet or more
of development work are showing up well, among which aro tho Simmons grr up, comprising the Key
stone. Checkina'e, Umpire and Huckeye, all situated on the Simmons Mountain and mid to bo tho host
group of mines In tho camp, lso the Hluo Hell, Little Casino and Monte Chri to, situated on the fame
mountain ami extensions of the Simmons ledges, showing eatuogrado and chnracter of oro. The Wny
Up. northeast oi uornucopia, snows souiu oi mo ncuesi. oro oi any in camp ami is no uount an extension
of tho Hluo Hell and Simmons group. Tho Union, Companion. Last Chan, e, Robert, F.nimot, Forest
Queen, Red Hoy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Hoy, Climax
and Queen of the West are all sullleiently developed to show them to bo good ledges Mid contain paying
initios, l no uornucon a or i-iuu v tcck tiisinci is a ricu ono wmi an unlimited amount
nr., in trreilL nun
of oro and only lacks capital to prove Its wonderful richness. It Is destined to bo one of tho richeat
camps In existence. . , ...
Tho Sanger mines aro operated by a San 1' ranclsco Company, which began Its operations two years
ago, buying tho ledges for 817,0(0 anil now cleaning up on an avoraao of $70,000 per month. Thoo
nil nos arc on tho road between Union and Cornucopia, nboutllJ miles east of Union, having a tri-weokly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed In direct communication with Union, their trad-
'"k Tho's'partu mines aro aliout eight miles southeast of Sanger and havo been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding lsrge returns. The Sparta mines aio mostly placer, but quite a number of
ledges havo lately been found which, as fsr as dovelopeu, indicate good paying ore. A mill is lielng
built hero and good returns uro expected from Its work.
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AGrRICULTURAL ITVTJSXTEa.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of tho County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Ronde, whose beauty is recoming known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue viult above. Wherever tho eye
gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. Tills valley embraces aOO.lXO acres of
as tine Agricultural Land as can fouifd on the Pacific Const.
Tho Grande Ronde River enters its boundary on the West and flows Kasterly through the center
of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at i's Northern limits; 30x25 miles Is its length and brcdtli
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering tho valley at the South,
Mill Creek entering at the Fast 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 water the t eason round.
The soil of this valley Is principally a black, rich loun with clay subsoil, there being avout three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellont grain.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, Harley. Rye, Timothv, Alfalfa and Clover Is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to 50 busheN 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.
Th producing and exportof grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Resides the production of giain and hay for export, a i immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and sniaile fruits, al-o garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Hutter and Cheese is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as line stock may bo seen upon tho farms of Grande Ronde
Valley as anywhere, stockmen and farmers alwajs securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on line than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice places can bo bought at from 315 to 30 per acre, which is compJlatively 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 cood farms.
TIMBER.
Tlie hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. Hut 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 tho West, traversing the Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of 14 milt s.
The Hunt Railroad sjstem will be extended during the next jear from "WaPa Walla, W. T., through
the Hluo Mountans to Sunimerville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse tho en
tiro length of the valley through its center to Union. Upon the building of this road tho valley will
havo the best railrtmd facilities.
Pugot Sound, W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of tho
Sovnd in competition for the trade of the Valley, the imparlance of which is evidenced by tho building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Rondo Vslley. it cui he said w ith
out tear of contradiction, that no better oppoMunitv is cll'ered anywnere in the Northwest for the homo
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley anil its vicinity. Tho resources of tho valley and Its
tributary sections will sustain nianufacturiiig indust' ies of nearly eveiy kind, of which we now havo
hut very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the funning and dairy ing I usiness.
ollering in this line advantages not to be found but in very few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a prolltahlo business and there is hardly an individual here solely in that business at, present.
To visit Grande Ronde Valley slid 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 bestof reputation in regurd to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a gsod country.
The Grande Ronde Valley lias several considerable towns and villages: Union in tho southern end
of the valley, Lu Giando at the base of the mountains on the northwest. Summerville in tho northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on tho east side, and FJgln in the extreme northern part of the
valley.
UNION.
The County Sent of Union County, Is situated in the southern portion of the Fertile fl ramie Honde Valley, and has
the best Natural Location for a City of any town in Kastern Oregon. Situated, just at the base of rolling hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters aro pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing Immense waterpower just waiting to be utilized by the baud of
man for all kinds of manufacturing industries. In fact the water power Is amply sulllclent to niako Union the Lowell
of Oregon if tho attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will bo the case wlieu new
blood and Kastern capitalists come In. This is one of the best places in Oregon for the erection of mauufacturles.
A woolen mill is greatly needed now, and stwoo energetic capitalist who is engaged Ih such business would And
here tlie 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 in fact ever thing that such a business would consume is pro
dnced here In the valley.
The present population of Union Is about 1,200, but when the O. it W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her
population inside of six months. Eager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low prices lu property and
procure for themselves a home where they may live in peace and plenty. Water works can be put in at very little ox
ponso by running apart of Catherine creek into a largo reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all tho fall
wo want from ISO feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump and tho necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can be, made to run directly into tho reservoir anil all the waste can bo utilized in furnishing power for machinery.
When once water works aro completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can bo
found.
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. Wo havo In our public school, a High School Grade. The school is supplied
with every possible convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal bunded citizens, who believe lu giving their
children a tlrst-cjass education anil that they can be educated In no better way than by having a No. 1 School at homo
Tho school at present Is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded. .Students on completing the pre
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that ellect. All addition to tho picsent school building Is In contempla
tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to bo tuMcd.
Morally and socially, Union is unexcelled and her hospitality is widely known throughout the surrounding coun
try. We 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 dill'erent kinds, all doing a prolltable business, as they supply a great agricul
tural district and the numerous mining camps in the near vicinity. We aro also supplied with several saloons bar
bershops, blacksmlthshops, etc., one principal hotel anil several restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes o'f the
cptcurian emi be fully satisfied. We aro also supplied with two first-class livery and feed stables so that strangers
coming to this town will have no trouble in procuring a first-chus team and taklug a drive out into the oxhilleratlng
atmosphere and feasting his ejes upon the grandeur of our mountain scenery, ami breathing in the life-giving exygeu
that can bo found nowhere so puro as in Union County. To the Hasten v. who is uot used to mountain scenery when
first beholdlngour beautiful Intuition, his ilrst ami involuntary exclamation is, "Paradise Found at Last "
Our county Court House Is well tlnished in every particular, having a large and commodious hall, amply suflicient
to accommodate any ami all audiences. It also has lu connection a jail built by tho Pauley Hros., with nil their latest
improved! cells, thus nuking things secure aaiu;-rihe escapeof any prisoners that may bo confined tboreln Our
Opera House is ono of thf largest this side of I'ortland, with handsomely decorated curtains and tlnished in superb
style. Otie large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, is situated adjoin
ing the town. Also several saw mills in tho near vicinity. The lumbering interest is bound to become quite a fea
ture in our industries.
Taken all in all, Union is one of the best towns in Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has been kept back on account
of poor railroad facilities, but when the Hunt System of Hallroad Is completed into Union, its latent resources will bo
developed ami it will lake Its place among the thriving cities of our land. We have one of the loveliest towns In
Oregon, and a great deal of wealth is hero already. All that is now needed is for people to come and take advantage
of the great inducements soon to be thrown at tho feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muscle
The pleasure-seeker or the Invalid ran find no better place to while away the summer mouths. Only threo'mlles
away can bo found Hot Springs aud I.akes reveling lu lnttiical virtues ami curative powers the famous ''Kansas Hot
Springs," itheumatism and such complaints disappearing as if by the baud of some magician. Lovers of tho piscatorial
art will find tho beaualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain and brook trout In tho
edge of the mountains larger game may be found, while out lu the valley along the (irando Hondo river aro geese
swau and ducks in abundance, lu the the grain field prairie chickens are quite plentiful. Taklug all these natural
advantages for pleasure and business, we thluk people looking fox a homo can mid no placo supplvlug all their wants
better than the beautiful city of Uuiou.
bluco tho much talked of Hunt Hallroad is an assured fact, property is beginning to advance In prices thoush at
tho present timo city lots and blocks may be 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, 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, . w
jWILSON & HOEIETT,
TJIVrorv, OREGON
Who will choorfully furnish thorn with sill tho information deairod. '