- , V" . - '
'.'vi
COUNTY
OREGON
UNION
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
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COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND,
The valleys are of an average olevation of tilMtut -,00(1 feet uhovt! sea level, the hfg1ies iriounhiih
peaks being about 0,000 feet and continually covered witli snow, wliieli furnishes a water supply for
titimcroiiA streams t ho year round.
THE CLIMATE
la dry and healthful, there being a Hitllieient rainfall to preserve the moisture of the noil and mature
crops. Snow Heldom fulls to tho depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer than from
two to three weeks at a time.
Tho mean temperature for the winter month is aboit,t '20 degrees ahove freezing jsoint, and for
tho summer months ahout 70 ahove zero, the heat of tho flay being offset by cool nights that unsure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
The winter season usua ly begins uliotit tho llrst of Dei-ember and lasts till tin; middle of February
or first of March, when the husbandman is given an oporlunity to prepare for his springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm and dry weather ia broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing sutlcient moisture to the ground and tempering tho atmosphe.ru so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield.
During tho months of .luly, August and Septemln'r, which are the harvesting months in this
county, the weather is iisualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough nun falls in thu autumn 'months to moisten the ground sulliciently to permit tlio farmer to,
prepare the same for his fall grain. '
There, is no country in the United States more blessed by a healthful climato than Union County,
as tho vigor and enterprise, of is citizens will prove.
Tho various contadons prevalent in many localities are almost whollv unknown here, and are
usually very mild in their attaeks when thev do nnpe.tr. There has only been one case of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills ami rover are totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and the lives of people,, nor blizzards to
freeze the life out of humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphere which is, found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
.SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1,107,500 Acres of Surveveil Lmd in the County ; the rest in unsurveyed, the. uiisur
voyod portion being valuable, for Timher, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of the County are. lirande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Hig Creek, ICagle, l'ine and Starkey. The
soil in these valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Hurley, Hye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetable's 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 !!. to "0 bushels to the aero, Harley from 10 to 70, Oats about the same
as Harley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 hiibhels of oats has been raised to
Iheaeru" Tho Mountains are covered with a l'ine ( irowth of Timber, consisting of Piiie, Tamrack,
. Spruce, etc. The most valuable is the l'ine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
tho larger species of Tanirae, hut this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sulllcient to supply the surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of the County are only partialy developed, but sullicient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great lcdges'of ore interline tho mountain sides, which, when
sulllcient capital is employed in their development, w ill lie a great factor in the general summary of
I'm wealth of the County.' A more detailed account of tho Mines and Mineral Hcsources of "the
County w ill bo found further on.
srrooiv iJAifSiivc-.
The assessment roll of the county lor the year IKRS, shows that there were 21.711) head of horses,
SM.'iM Head of Cottle, (ft.Trfi Head of Sheep, ami 5,570 Head of Swine, show ing of itself Hint the County
Is n grcutHtoek liaising Hcuiou. Thousands of head of slock are j early shipped, bringing to the ow ners
tho'eof a neat profit on their Investment.
In fuel, the slock business has been and still is the most paying-of any In the country and it
bids fair to continue to he such f ir many years to como The hunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountains is very nutritious, stoik fattc ing in a very short, time, ready for market. Usually stock Ins
to In fed lia form m 'ino to two months during the winter, bin In muiiv places horses will winter upon
the bunch grass ami do well. I'lio cllmale Is such that slo k raised Is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, uiving to work horses a strong constitution ami powerful inusolo.
Tie) milk caw hero attains perfect! m. Sliei'p are very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. The
dairying business In the het few ears has developed into a U'go and prolllalile one, tho country being
specially adapted to the bu-lncss by reason ot the milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex
cellent Hinge, the large quantity ol hay and gain laised per acre, the healthfulness of animals, tho
largo vvatcr supply and tho otiick market of Hulter and Cheese. The .Iersy, llolhllue and Durham are
raiuilly taking the phiceof i lie common breed of cat'le, and dairymen are giving considerable attention
lo (lie irceili' g of their cows.
It Is sal. I more profit can In realized per year from a milk cow In this country than any other in the
United Slau-s, one instance, being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a tut prollt to the owner
of $175 besides the calf
Two ivamei les ale In operation at the Cove, In this county, whi h make lt!fl,0'J pounds of cheese,
worth 1 1 cents kt pound, and 7."i,(M 0 jiouuils butter, worth US cents per p iind.
This year a creamery Is In operation at l.a Or nde, with what success remains to he seen, Although
no doubt can he entertained hut that It will prove to he a prolllalile concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining Districts of Un'on County arc Cornucopia, Spuria ami Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In thu H stern portion of the County, and oinbiaeJs a section about ten miles sipiure, within which there
are about (UK) ipi'rtz locations. The formation Ih granite ami slate; the ledges i mining In a Soiithearteriy
and Northwesterly dhectlon. The llrst locutions were made hero In IrXl. Tho quartz contains Gold ami
Silver, the gold predominating. Some of the lodes are frou milling, hut they generally contain hsse
metal mi in consequence wi 1 have to hu treated in reduction woiks. Assay have been made of ore from
tho diH-Tout groans, sh living an average yield of from 25 to $1 (I per ton. When tho proper meth' ds
aro employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will bo considered tho Now
"Kldorado of the West." ...
Tho Or gon Hold Mining Company, of l.ouuvllle, Ivy . Is the only company represented In the dis
trict. It has opened iqceveral of Ph ledges, which weioobtatned at from !(, ) to L'll.t'OO each.
The lied .lai kit, belonging tT 1 1lls company, Is a vyoII dellneJ ledge, averaging about four feet in
thickness and w hen struck on Hie lowest tunnel, was found to ho a mass of the golden melal. This
company has a Id-Stamp Mill running night ami dsy upon thu ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou
sand tlvo hundred pounds of sulphurets were secured tho llrst month of this spring's operations, bobldos
Immense quantities of free wold caught upon the mini gam p uis.
This company s expenses in hiilhiliiUH, machinery, roads, developments, etc., hai amounted to over
?:i(K)) 0. They have ilie Whitman, which !iat a shaft sunk over I, find feel and shows better as the work
progresses; the Aha No which is developed suftlclentiy to Indicate a w ell dellned ledge of high grade
ore. The present superintendent. l'rofe-sor Smith, is hi 'lily pleased wtlh the prospect for his company
anil predicts a second Ia-advllle of Connie ipla. Manv other ledges of the camp with HH) feet or more
of dvvolopmont work are show ing up well, among which are tho Simmons ur up, comprising the Key
stone. Checkuia'e, Umpire and Hm keyo, ad situated on the Simmons Mountain and Mild to be the I est
umun of mines In the cam), Iso the Hlue Hell, l.lttle Casino ami Monte Chrl to, situated on ihurame
. . . - . i i.i !..!. 1 1. 1.. 1.1 . Int. . . .
mountain ami extensions el UIO oiuiliiinis iciikos, hiuiwiiih rnim'prnuv miu i niiiiicicr ui 010. j lie. n ay
extension
orest
Climax
Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of (he riehe-l ore of any in camp and Is no doubt an exte
of the Hlue Hell and Simmons group. The Union. Companion. Last Chan e, Hubert Kuiinet, 1
ii........ ii... I it...- M,.v I'lmiMr I'm mill Allen. Heil Ctoss. Sleeii ermine. Stellu. TIlmt How ('
and Queen of the West are all sulliciently developed to show (hem to ho good ledges and contain paying
- ! ,tr. nt iionnililoM. 't in- Cornuconla or Pine I 'reek district 1 a rich one with an unlimited amount
of ore ami only lacks capital to prove Its wondeiful richness. It Is destined to Is) one of tho rlcheat
camps in existence.
The Sanger mines are operated bv a San Francisco ( oinpauy, which began Its cpe rations two years
agi, buying the leilges for S17.0' 0 anil now cleaning up on an averaue of $70,(x:o per month. Those
iiilnus aro on the road bet ween Union and Cornucopia, about.'! miles east of Union, having a triweekly
nail from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed In direct communication with Union, their trail-
"K 'l'ho's'purta mines are aWmt. eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for tho past
twenty years, still yielding Isrgo returns. Tho Sparta mines are mostly placer, hut qulto a numlierof
ledges have hitelv been found which, as fr ss developed, Indicate good paying ore. A mill Is being
built here and good returns aro expected from Its work.
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A (x R rC UT SV 3 I AT j ITVrri CT XtrLS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, Is the Famous Ci-ande Hondo, whose beauty is l ecomb g known far ami wiiie,
surrounded by lofty nifiiutains upon whi' h seems to test the blue vult above. herever the eye
Kazo it cannnt help belli"; enchante t I y our beautiful i-oenery. This valley embraces bOU.iKO acres oi
as fine Agricultural I.atid as can b found on the Pacific Const. .
The Oraiide'Honfle Mver enters its boundary on ihe UVst and flows H.v Icily through the center
of the va ley and thonee Northerly'and out at I s Northern limits; H0xli" miles is its length and hredili
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the drande Hondo enterimr the valley at Die Mmtii,
Mill Creek enti ring at the Kat ntri W illow Creek enierinf? at Ihe North, w ith numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Hondo Val ey one of the best watered valleys in Oreuon, all of the above
named breams airo-ding; abundance of water the eaon round.
The soil of this valley is principally a blark, rich lo-m whh day subsoil, theie being; a'oiit three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, km wnas the Sand Hidgo. all of which produces exec lent grain.
The yield of Wheal, Oats, JJsirley. Hye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Cloer is large, the ceieals yielding
from 25 to ft) bui-hels per acre of. Wheal IC to 100 for Oats and Harley, and Hay from -' lo S tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in olio season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Th" prodii' log ai'H export d irain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Hosidos Ihe production of giain and hay for export, a i immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and sin ale fruits, al-o gar 'en vegetables are raided in great quantities ami
marketed In the neighboring sections. Hutter and Chee-e is also one of our staple products. Hock
raising is eugatred in largely and piofltably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Giamle Hondo
Valley as anywhere, stoeumcn amf farmers always seeming the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes aro no higher on lino than poor stock. Tho lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice place-can be bought at from 815 to :t() per acre, w h ch is comp&nlively cheap. Many largo
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality ca: be had at very reasonable rales,
which could be illvidod'tnto several good farms.
TIMBER.
Tho hills and mountain 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.
Tho 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 the Southwestern boundary of the valley
for u distance of 11 mihs.
Tho Hunt Hailroad system will be uxtended during the next year from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through
the Hlue Mounlans to Summerville, in thu northern portion of the valley and will ihen travep-o tho en
tire length of the valley through its center to Union. Upon the building o.f irtiVj-oad the valley will
have the best railroad facilities.
Paget Sound, W. T Is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities- nf the
So1 ml in competition, for the trade of the Valley, the. importance of which is odoenced by tho building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Hondo V Jey. it c-m bo taid with
out fear of contradiction, that no better oppoMim'tv is oll'ercd anywnere in the Vorlhwost for the homo
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Komtu Valley and Us vicinity. The resource! of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing iudust ies of nearly eveiy kind, of which we now have
but very few. It whi sustain ten times the population it now has in the fsrmii g ani.dairying 1 usiness.
offering in this line advantages not to be found hut in very few places. The raising if thorough bred
stock is a piolitable hii-bicss and there is hardlv an Innividual here solely in that businessut piescut.
To visiu Grande Hondo Valley end see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate litre. In no
ii stance have people who have Usitetl this valley givt n it other than the bestof reputation in regard to
climate, soil and even thing that goes lo constitute a g)od country.
The Grande Hondo Valley lias several considerable towns and villages: Union in the souther end
of the valley, l.a Giamle at the base of the mountains on the northwest Suiiiiiitu ville in tho nohern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on thu east side, and Klgin in the extreme northern part ot the
valley.
I T IV I O IV ,
Tlio Comity Best of I'u ton County, Is slluntiit la ihe southern portion of the Fertile Uruinlu lionile Valley, sad tins
the 1'Ckt Natural Location for a City of any town in Katcru Oregon. Shunted, just lit tlio Iihm! of rollliik' hills on both
hides of Catherine. Creek, a beautiful, sjiurklliiK ctrcani, wlioso waters are pure hh nsture ever diillllcd and held
(Udpouded In her nioiuitala reservoirs, furiilchliiK liinnenso wnlcrpower just waiting to bo utilized by the hand of
anil for all klmls of iiiHiuifiicturliiK iiidiiMrlc?, In fart the water power la limply mllU'k'iit to make I'ulou the Lowell
of OreKon H the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned la that direction, which will lie tlio eao when new
blood nail Kastern ciipltallMti conie in. This Is ouc of tho licet places in Oregon for the erection of inauofactiiries.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, mid soio energetic capitalist who in engaged Is such business would dud
hero the chosen bpot 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 Unit such a business would consume in pro
dnced here in the valley.
The present population of Union is about 1,'JOO, but when the O. A W. T. railroad readies hero she will dmililo her
population inside of six mouths, Eager eyes aro watching to take advantage of the present low prices in jirojierty and
procure for themselves a home where they may live In jieaco and plenty. Water works cau bo put In at very little ex
pense by running a part of Catherine creek Into n large reservoir ou the hill back of town. This will give all tho fall
wo want from HO feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump and the necessary repairs. Tills mountain stream
can Ih1, made to run directly Into the reservoir and all tlio waste cau be utilized ill furnishing power for machinery
When ouco waterworks are completed there will be no need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water can bo
found.
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have In our public school, a High School tirade. The school is saiudled
with every possible convenience. Kveiythlng is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, wtio believe in giving their
children a Ilrst-cjass education and that they cau lie educated In no better way than bv ha Ing a No. 1 School at home
Tlte school at present Is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded, students on completing the ore-
scrineu course oi stuuy receive a corwncate to uiai cueci. ah audition lo me piesent scliool building la In coutemiila
thin, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to be added. 1
try.
inanity,
tural illi
borshoni
illlfill l u uv jiuij miieiM,!. u t nit- nini. fiiijiiii-u wjiuittii iiipi-rinsn lOl'O tlllU ll'ISl SIllOlCS SO lll.il StrUllCOrs
coming to tills town will have no trouble in procuring a llrst-ebus learn and ta'iiug a drive out into tho exlillleratlue
atmosphere and feasting his ees upon tlio granib ur of our mountain scenery, and breathing In the lifo-givhi" exvien
that can be found nowhere so pure as in Union County. Tot lie Kasleiiv. who is not nsed to mountain scenery "ulipii
first beholdltittour beautiful Usmtloii, his tlrst and lnvoluuiay exclamation Is, "Paradise Found at I ast "
Our county Court House Is well finished ill eery particular, having a large and commodious hall, a'mnlv sufllr-Ieiit
to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has In couiiection a jail built bv the I'auley Pros with ll their latest
lmproieed cells, thus making things secure ic-aln-t the escape of any prisoners" that may lie eoullucd thurein Onr
Opera Mouse Is one of tlif largest this st.ie ot Portland, with haudsomely decorated curtains and Mulshed lif s'uncrh
style. One iargo Hiid commodious Flouring Mill, full roller iroces, with all modern improvements, Is situated admin,
lugthetown. Also several saw mills iu the near victulty. The lumbering interest Is sound to becomu nnlm m f.'H
tun- In our industries. 1 ,u " ,la
Taken all iu all, Cnlnn is one of the liost towns iu Kastern Oregon. Heretofore she has ls-eu kent buck on uppnnnt
of poor rallma I facilities, but when the Hunt System of Hailroad Is completed Into Union, its latent resources will tu
developed aim It will lake it place among the thriving cities of our land. We have one of tho loveliest town in
Oregon, and a great dial of wealth Is here already. All that Is now needed Is for people to come and take advauiain
of the great inducements soon to 1k throw n at the feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muselH
The ph asiire-se, ker or the Invalid can Hud no better place to while away the Muimier mouths. Only threemlleji
away can tie found Hot r- rings and Dikes reveling in medical virtues ami curative powers the famous 'Kansas lint
Kprliigs," Khcumallsm nnd such complaints disappearing as if by the hand of some magician. Lovers of the iilsc.it,iVii
art w ill find the lieiiualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamv mountain and brook trout in ih,!
edge of tho mountains largcrgame may Ih-fouud, whip-out iu the valley along the ciraude ltonde river are i?m'u
.Morauy ami socially, ruiou is uncxci ueu aim ner luisrniiiuty is wnieiy known throughout tho surrounding coun
We have four churches, all in a llourl-hiiig condition. There are six secret socletn-h. ilotm- ,,,,.i, ,..i ... i,
We have a number of stores of dlll'erent kinds, all doing a profitable business, us thev supply a great airrienl
strl t and Ihe numrious mining caiuns in the near lclnitv. We are also sin. tilled una L:,r..i ..,i,i..r i.:.:
, ii...., . ...i.i.. I ' ..... .i : ..i i. i i . . : . ".V"" "u'p um
. umi l.nilllllK-LIOI'.'-. lil.. .iiil- 111 III, I (ll liuiei ItUli BL'U'J u I I'BIItlll nil l. Ml lliai I II I- HlflST tmtht nllu lult.,u .1...
luinoe river are geese.
bluce the much talktsl of Hunt Itailroad Is an assured fact, property Is iH-glnnlsg to advance In nrtp.. tiu.nus u.
the present time city lots and blocks may bo had at very reasonable rate. 1 1,1 I,rlCc!'' though at
swan and ducks Iu abundance. In the the grain Held prairie chickens aro quite plentiful. Taking all these Tihtoril
advantages for pleasure and business, wo think jn-oplo looklnelor a home can rind no place suunlvlnu all their u'i,,ti
Ixtlter lli.iti fh,. lu.HiitWul f.tti of llnli, ti ' ll . s vn nnuis
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. v
Parties desiring information of Union County can do no better than interview or address the managers of this
association, .
tnVIOIV, OREGON,
Who will uhoorfully furnish Huim with nil tho Information desired.