UNION
COUNTY
OREGON,
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
AND
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND
Tlio valleys arc of an average elovation of alout 2,000 feet above pea level, the highest mountain
peaks being nlMiut 0,000 feet anil continually covered with enow, which furniHhes a water supply for
numerous streams the year 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 the depth of one foot in tbo valleys, and never remains longer then from
two to threo weeks at a time.
Tho mean temperature for the winter months is about 20 decrees above freezing point, and for
the summer months nltotit 70 alxivo zero, the heat of the day being ofrset by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
Tho winter season usua.ly begins alwut tbo first of December and lasts till the middle of February
or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for bis springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, tbo monotony of warm and dry weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing euflcient moisture to tho ground and tempering tho atmosphere so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield.
During the months of July, August and September, which are the harvesting months m this
county, tbo weather is usualy dry and adapted to tlvo successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in tht autumn "months to moisten the ground sufficiently to permit tbo farmer to
prepare tbo same for his fall grain.
There is no country in Uio Unit
dry in Uio United States more blessed bv a healthful climate than Union county,
as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The various contagions prevalent in many localities are almost wholly unknown here, and are
usually very mild in their attacks when thev do appear. There has only been ouo case of Smallpox in
Union" County sinco its settlement;, and chills ami (over are totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy properly and Uio lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze tho life out 6f humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphere which is found AVcst
of tho Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1 ,-1117,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County; the rest is unsurveyed, the unsur
veyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of the County arc Grande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. The
Mnll Iff ttlOHI. VltltflVM is ivell iid.-mted In tbo rnisimr of Wheat. Oats. Barlov. Hvc. Timothy. Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetable's and Fruits, such as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of tbo smaller varieties grow to perfection.
Tho yield of Wheat is from 25 to 50 bushels to the aero, Barley from -10 to 70, Oats about the samo
as Hurley, with exceptions in some localities, whon as high as 100 bubhels of oats has been raised to
the acre. Tho Mountains are covered with a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pino, Tamrack,
Hprueo, etc. The most valuable Ib tho Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
tint largor species of Tamrac, hut this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood tics, etc., which
is amply Hiilllcient to supply tho surrounding country for ages.
Tho mineral resources of tho County are only nartiulv developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been dono to prove that great ledges of ore interlino tho mountain sides, which, when
sufficient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tbo general summary of
I'm wealth of the County. A more dotJiiled account of the Mines and Mineral Hesources of the
County will bo found further on.
STOCK IVIJSUVC.
Tbi" assessment roll of tho county lor tho year 1888, shows that there were 21.710 head of horses,
28 ll Mend of Cattle, fio.fViS Head of Sheep, and 5,571) llcud of Swine, showing of itself that the County
Is'n great.S'ock Raising Ronton. Thousands of head of slock are yearly shipped, bringliiK to the owners
theieof a neat prollt on their investment.
In fact the stock business lios been and still is tho most paying 'f any in tho country and It
bids fair to eontlnuu to hi! such formally years to como. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountains Is von- nutritious, stock fattening in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock his
to lie fed ha for "from one to two months during the winter, but in iiiauv places horses will winter upon
tho bunch grass and do well. Tlio cllmato Is such that slo k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, lilviiigjo work horses a strong constitution unit powerful muscle.
Tlio milk caw here attains perfection. Sheep are very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. I lie
dairying business In the last few years has developed into a largo and profitable one, the country being
specially aiaptod to the business by reason of the milk producing qualities of the gr.isses and tku ex
cellent iaugo, the largo quantity of hay and g'ain raised per acre, the healthfulness of animals, the
laro water supply and ttui quick market of Hotter and Cheese. Tho Jersey, Holstlno and Durham are
rapidly taking tlio place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention
to tho breeding of their cows.
It Is said more profit can hi) realized per year from a milk cow in this country than any other in the
United Stiues, one Instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net profit to tho owner
' Twn ! ii'iirailleB'liri! In (ipuratlim nt lliu Cove, in IIiIh camity, whlrh make 120,(00 pounds of cheese,
worth 1 1 cents por pound, and 75.1M 0 islands butter, worth 25 cents per v und.
This year a creauury Is In operation at I.a Gentle, with what success remains to bo seen, olthough
no doubt can be entertained hut that It will provo to be a profitable concern.
ITS MINING. RESOURCES,
The Mining Districts of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In tho K stein purl Ion of the County, and embraces a section about ten miles square, w itliln which there
aro about IS00 qurU locations. The format ion in grand e and slate; tho ledges running In a Southoarterly
and Northwesterly direction. Tho first locations were made hem in 1881. The quartz contains Cold and
Silver, tho gold predominating. Some of tho lodes aro froo milling, but they generally contuin Imso
metal an In consequence wi'l have to be treated In reduction works. Assays have been made of oie from
tho dill-rout groups, showing an aver.ige yield of from S25 to $1 0 por ton. When the proper meth ds
are employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will be considered tho Now
'Kldorado of the West." .,,,,-., , , ,
Tho Or gon Gold Mining Company, of Louuiville, Ky , Is the only company represented In tho dis
trict. It Pas opened upoverai oi i'n lougos, wimu uiu oinuiiicii hi. mini cm,' n io $w,i'iiu t-ncu.
Tlio Hod Jacket, belonging to this company, is a nell defined ledge, averaging about four foot in
lldnkneHH nod w icii struck on tlio lowest tunnel, was loumi to no a mass oi uio koiiiou metal, mis
pniiinaiiv lias a -10-Stiumt Mill runnliiK alula and diy upon the oro taken front this ledge. Seven thou-
.' ., . . i -I ....... i. i i . i... n-. . .1. f ,i.t i....-
s, etc., na'H amounted to over
and shows bettor as tlio work
sand live hundred pounds of sulphurets were secured tho first month of tills spring's operations, besides
liiiinniiMft mum iIiI.m nf free cold cauuht upon the uiiiu'uiiin pans.
This company s expenses in buildings, machinery, roads, development
f:inon in Thin- have tho Whitman, which hm a shaft sunk over 1,500 foot i
progresses; the Alia No. 2, which Is developed Hiilllcient ly to Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade
oro. The present superintendent, Professor Smith, Is highly pleased with tho pro.spect for his company
and predicts a second Leadvillo of Connie p!a. Many other ledges of the camp with 100 feet or more
of development work are showing up well, among which aro tho Simmons gr up, comprising the Key
stone, Cheekina'e, Umpire and Huckejo, ad situated on the Simmons Mountain and -aid to bo the l est
group of mines In the camp, lso the Hluo Hell, l.lttlo Casino and Monte Chri to, situated on tho fame
mountain and extensions i f the Simmons ledges, showing same grade and ( Intruder of oro. The V ay
Up northeast of Coruucopiit, shows some of tho richest, oro of any in camp and is no doubt an extension
of the Hluo Hell land Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Hubert Kmmct, Forest
Queen, Hod Hov, Mav Flower, Cox and Allen, Hod Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Hoy. Climax
and Queen of the West are all sufficiently developed to show them to bo good lodge and contain paying
ore In great quantities. The Cornucopia or Pine Creek district I a rich one with an unlimited amount
of oro and only lacks capital to prove Its wonderful richness. It is destined to be one of the richest
camps In existence. .... ....
Tho Sanger mines aro operated by a San l'ranclsco Company, which began Its operations two years
ago, buying tho ledges for SI7,0i0 and now cleaning tip on an averauo of S70.0CO por month. These
mines aro on the road bet ween Union and Cornucopia, about St I miles east of Union, having a tn-weokly
mnll from Union on to Cornucopia, tints being placed in direct communication with Union, their trad-
in,, until!
ti. Ktmrtji mines are about eight miles southeast of Sanger and
twenty yearn, still yielding large returns. Tho Sparta mines are mostly placer, but quite a number of
lodges have lately lecn found which, as fur as developed, indicate good paying oro.
built bore and good returns are expecteu iroin us woru.
have been worked for tho past
A mill Is being
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AGrRICULTCRAL HVTBRBSTS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of tho County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Honde. whose beauty is I ecomlng known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon whlrh seems to lest the blue v.ii t above. hereyer the eje
gazes It cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful t-cenery. This valley embraces oUO.Oll) acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as cn b found on the Pacific Const. , , ...
The Grande Honde Hiver enters Its boundary on the West and flows Latterly through the center
of the va'l.-y and thence Northerly and out at i s Northern limits; S10x25 miles U its length and bredlh
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of tho Grande Hondo entering the vallej at the booth.
Mill Creek entering at the Fast and Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Honde Val'ey one of the best watered valleys In OreRon, all of the above
named i-treams nflo-dlng abundance of water the eaon round. .... , , . .t
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lomn with clay subsoil, there being a'-out three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as tho Sand Hldge, all of which produces excellent grain.
The vield of Wheat. Oats, Parley Hye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Cloier is large, tho cereals yielding
from 25 to f.O bui-hcls per acre of Wheat -10 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.
The produring and export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Besides tho production of giain and hay for export, a i immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Hears and single fruits, aNo gar.'en vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Uutter and Cheese is also one of our staple product. Stock
raising is engaged In largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon tho farms of Grande Rondo
Valley as anywhere, stockmen and farmers always securing tho best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes aro no higher on fine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice places can bo bought at from 815 to Hu per ocre. wheh is comparatively cheap. Many largo
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of tho best quality can be had at very reasonable rates,
which could be divided into beveral good farms.
TIMBER.
The hills and mountains aro 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. H. & N. H. H. entering the valley at the southern portion and following the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the valley on the West, traversing tho Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of 14 miles.
The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next ear from Wal'a Wolla, W. T., through
the Hluo Mountans to Summerville, in the northern portion of tho 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
have tho best railroad facilities.
Puget Sound, W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of tho
Soeiid in competition for tho trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced by the building
o( this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Honde Vslley, it can bo said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is offered any wnere in the Northwest for the home
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Hondo Valley and its vicinity. Tho resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indusfios of nearly every kind, of which wo now have
but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the farming and dairying I usiness.
offering in this lino advantages not to be found but in very few places. Tho raising of thorough bred
stock is a profitable business and there is hardlv an individual here solely in that business aL present.
To visit Grande Hondo Valley nd see it and to Investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
irstanco have people, who have visited this valley given it other than the bestof reputation in regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a g3od country.
Tho Grande Honde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in tho southern end
of tho valley, La Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest Summerville in tho northern
end of the valloy, Cove about midway on the east side, and Elgin in the extreme northern part of tho
valley.
UNION,
The County Best of Union County, Ib situated hi the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Hoiule Valloy, and has
the bent Natural Ideation for a City of any town in Hnstern Oregon. 81tinitetl, just at the base of rolling hills on both
sldcHof Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whoso waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended In her mountain reservoirs, furnishing Immense waterpower just waiting to be utilized by tho hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturing Industries. In fact the water power is amply sulllclent to mHke Union the Lowell
of Oregon if tho attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which 'will ho the case when now
blood ami Kasteru capitalists come In. This is one of the best places In Oregon for the erection of manufactures.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and scio energetic capitalist who Is engaged in such business would And
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 In fact everything 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. & W. T. railroad reaches hero sho will double her
population lusldu of six mouths. Kager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low prices in property and
procure for themselves a homo where they may live In peace and plenty. Water works cau bo put In at very little ex
pense by running a part of Catherine creek Into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all tho fall
we waut from 1M) feet up: no expeuso of keeping a steam pump and the necessary repairs. This mouutalu stream
can be, made to run directly into the reservoir and all the waste cau be utilized In furnishing power for machinery.
When onto waterworks are completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., for uo purer drinking water cau bo
found.
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have In our public school, a High School Grade. The school Is supplied
with fiery possible convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, n no believe In giving their
children a tlrst class education and that they can be educated In no better way thau by having a No. 1 School at homo.
The school at present Is divided Into four compartments, all thoroughly graded, Modems on completing the pre
scribed course of study receive a certlllcate to that elteet. An addition to the piesent school building is in contempla
tion, also several huudred dollars worth of apartments Is soon to be added.
.Morally and socially, Union is unexcelled and her hospitality Is widely known throughout the surrounding coun
try We have four churches, all In a tlourihlng condition. There are six secret societies, doing much good to hu
manity. We have a number of stores of dlll'erent kinds, all doing a profitable business, as they supply a great agricul
tural district anil the numerous mining camps In the near vicinity. We are also supplied with several saloons, bar
bershops, blaeksmlthshops,. etc., one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes of tho
cpiuuriau cmu be fully satisfied. We are also supplied w ith two tlrst-class livery and feed stables so that strangers
coming to this town will have no trouble in procuring a llrst-cluis team and taking a drive out Into the cxhllleratiug
atmosphere and feasting his oes upon the graudtur of our mountain scenery, and breathing In the life giving exygen
that can lie found nowhere so pure as in fniou County. Totly Kaslenv. who Is not used to mountain sceuery, when
tlrst belioldlugour beautiful loitlon, his tlrst and involunia'y exclamation Is, "paradise Found at Last."
Our county Court House is well llnishcd In eicry particular, having a large and commodious hall, amplv sulllclent
to accommodate any and all audiences. It bJso has In connection a Jail built by the Pauley Pros., with 11 their latest
Improieed cells, thus mnklng things secure iiL'aln.-r the eseapeof any prisoners that may be coullued thureiu. Our
Opera House la one of the largest this sloe ol Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains ami Mulshed In superb
style. One large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller proces, with all modern improvements, Is situated adjoin.
iugthetowu. Also scleral saw mills In the near vicinity. The lumbering luterrst Is bouud 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 rallroa 1 facilities, but when the Hunt System of Kallroad is completed Into Union, Its latent resources will bo
deieloped and it will lake its place among the thriving cities of our land. We have one of tho 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 advautago
of the great Inducements soon to be thrown at the feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muscle
The pleasure-seeker or the Invalid can tlud no better place to while away the summer months. Only threo miles
away cau be found Hot Kprings ami Lakes reveling iu medical virtues and curative powers the famous "Kansas Hot
Springs," Ithc tumitlsm and such complaints disappearing as if by the hand of some magician. Lovers of tho piscatorial
art will tlud tbo beaualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain and brook trout in Uio
edge ot the mountains larger game may be found, ivhiln out iu tho valley along the Grande Hondo river are geese,
swan and ducks in abundance. Iu the the grain field prairie chickens are ipilte plentiful. Taking all these natural
advantages for pleasure aud business, we think people looking for a home cau dud uo place supplvhig all their wauts
better than the beautiful city of Union.
hlnre the much talked of Hunt Hatlroad is an assured fact, property is beginning to adraucc iu prices, though at
the preavut time city lots aud blocks may bo 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,
IVXLSOIV & HACKETT,
XJIVIOIV, ODRJEGOIY.
Who will cheerfully furnish thorn with all tho information desired. '