UNION
COUNTY. OREGON
9
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
AND
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND.
'
of tho County aro Grande Itonile, Indian, Nortli Powdor, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino ;
soil in IhcHo valloys iH well adapted to the raimim of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Tit
Alfalfa, Vwotablus and FruitH, mich as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries,
The valleys are of an average elovation of alout 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks being alwut ((,000 feet and continually eovercd with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams the year round.
. THE CLIMATE
Is dry and. healthful, there being a sufllcient 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 three weeks at a time.
The mean temperature for the winter months is about 20 degrees above freezing point, and for
the summer months about 70 above zero, the heat of the day being ofl'set by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
The- winter season usua ly begins alwut the first of December and lasts till the middle of FiJirtinry
or lirstof .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 weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing sullcient moisture to the ground and tempering the atmosphere so as to assure the
farmer an abundant yield.
During the months of July, August and September, which aro the harvesting months in this
county, the weathor is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in the autumn months to moisten the ground sufficiently to permit the farmer to
prepare the same for his fall grain.
There is no country in the United States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County,
as the vigor aud enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The various contagions prevalent in many localities aro almost wholly unknown here, and aro
usually very mild in their attack w hen they do anpear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in
Union County Binco its settlement, and chills and lover aro totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and the lives of people; nor blizzards to
freeze tho 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 ,4i)7.GOO Acres of Surveyed Land in the County : the rest iH unsurveyed, the unsur-
veyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasturo and abounding in Mineral Deposits. Tho valloys
ami htarKoy. ino
Lmiotliv, Clover ana
h. strawberries, and
in fact all of tho sma Her varieties erow to nerlection.
The yield of Wheat is from L'3 to GO bushels to the aero, Barley from 40 to 70, Oats about tho same
as Barley, witli exceptions in somo localities, when as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to
the acre. Tho Mountains are covered with a Flno Growth of Timber, consisting of Pino, Tamrack,
Spruce, etc. Tlio most valuable is tho Pino, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also somo of
the larger species of Tamrac, hut thirl class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sulllcient to supply tho surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of the County are only nurtiuly developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been dono to prove that great ledges of ore interlino tho mountain sides, which, when
sulllcient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in the general summary of
tbo wealth of the County." A more detailed account of the Mines anil Mineral Resources of tho
County will be found further on.
STOClv TfcVIHIIVC.
1 The amessnient roll of the county tor tho year 1888, shows that there were 21.7-10 lientt ofhorses,
28,'2.l Head of Cattle, i"i,o5 Head nf Sheep, and r,f7ll Ileml of Swine, showing of Itself that tho County
is a great Stock HniniiiK lloulon. TliouMtimls of head of slock aro yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof ti neat profit on their Investment.
In fad. t lie slock business lias been anil still In the most paying of any in the country and It
bid fair to continue to bo 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 has
to It" fed bar for mm ino to two mouths during the winter, but in inanv places liorsos will winter upon
(ho bunch grass anil do well, l'lio climate is such that sto k raised is of u hardy and healthful charac
ter, Klvlnglo work horses a strong constitution anil powerful muscle.
Th'i milk cow hero attains perfection. Sheep aro very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. Tho
dairying business In the n-t few years has developed into a lii'-go and profitable one, tho country being
specially adapted to the hii'lncua by reason of the milk producing qualities of the grasses and tho ex
cellent Hinge, the largo quantity of hay and gain raised per aero, tho healthfulness of animals, tho
large water supply and liiu quick market of Butter and Cheese. The Jersey, Holstine and Durham aro
mindly taking the place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen aro giving considerable attention
to the lirce(li"g of tlieir cows.
It Is said more luollt can bu realized per year from n milk cow In this country than any other In tho
United Stn es, one instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net profit to the owner
of ?I7.") Ih'm.Ios the calf
Two ri'iunerles aio in operation at tho Cove, In this county, whl' h make 12000 pounds of cheese,
worth 1 1 cents per pound, and 75,01 0 jkiuiiiIb butter, worth 25 cents per p und.
This yoar a creamery Ih In operation at La Gr Mule, with what success remains to bo seen, although
no doubt can he entertained but that it will prove to he a profitable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The .Mining District" of ITn'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In the K stein portion of the County, and embraces a section about (en nillea hquare, within which there
are about I KM) quartz locations. Tlio formation Ih granite and slate; the ledges running in a Southearturly
ami North westerly direction. The (lint locations were made here in 1884. Tho quartz contains Gold and
Silver, the gold predominating. Some of tlio lodes aro free milling, hut they generally contain base
metal an In coiiHequeneo will have to bo treated in reduction works. Assays have been made of oro from
tho dlll'iirent groups, showing an average yield of from 2.5 to $UU per ton. When tho proper inotheds
aro employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will bu considered the Now
"Klilnrnilo of tlio West."
Tho Or gon Gold Mining Company, of LouUvlllo, Ky , is the only company represented in (ho dis
i-niiiiwniv lias a KlStumii Mill riinnlmr nliiht and day unon Hie ore taken from this letlrro. Sevan thnn
sand live hundred pounds of sulpliurots wero secured tho first month of this spring's operations, besides
immense quantities of free gold caught upon the ania'gain pans.
This company's, expenses in buildings, inaehluery, mads, development, etc., has amounted to over
?:i(X) 0 0. They have tlio Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,600 feet and shows hotter uh tho work
progresses; tlio Alta No. 2, which is developed sulllclently to indicate a well dotlned ledge of high grade
ore. The present superintendent. Professor Smith, Is lilvhly pleased with tho prospect for his company
ami I predicts a second Leadvllloof Cornucopia. Many other ledges of tho camp with 100 feet or more
of development work are Hhowlng up well, among which arc tho Simmons group, comprising tho Key.
stone, Chcckiua'e, Umpire ami Durkeye, all situated on tho Simmons Mountain and aid to bo tho best
group of mines In tho camp, flso the lJluo Hell, Little Casino and Monto Chrl to, situated on (botanic
mountain and extensions of tho Simmons ledges, showing same grade aud character of oro. The Way
Up, northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of (he rlchet ore of any In camp and U no doubt an extension
of the Blue Bell and Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Robert Kmmot, Forest
tluecn, Red Bov, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Stcen groupe, Stella, Tiger Boy, Climax
and Queen of the West are all sulllclently developed to show (hem to bo good ledges and contain paying
ore In great quantities. Tho Cornucopia or Pino Creek district is a rich one with an unlimited amount
of ore and only lucks 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 r ranclsco Company, which began Its operations two years
ago, buying (ho ledges for 17,000 and now cleaning up on an average of 870,000 per month. Those
mines are on the road between Union and Cornucopia, about a miles east of Union, having a tri-weokly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, tints being placed in direct communication with Union, their trail,
lug point.
The Sparta mines are about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding largo returns. The Sparta mines are mostly placer, hut quite a number of
ledges have lately boon found which, as far as dovolopeu, indicate good paying oro. A mill Is being
bulll here and good returns are expected from Its work.
trlct. It has opened up 'ovoral of Its ledges, which weio oblalned at from Sll,( 00 to $20,000 each.
io Red Jarkit. belonging to this company. Is a well ilollnet Jeilgo. nveraKiiur about four feet n
thickness aud when struck on tho lowest tunnel, wax found to be a mass of tho golden metal. This
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Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most I-ertile and attract ive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Rondc. whose beauty is becoming known far ' anil wuie,
suiroundedby lofty mountains upon wbith seems to rest the blue veult above. "heaver uie eye
gazes it cannot heln bolntr enchanted v our beautiful t-cencry. This valley embraces JOU.tKU acres oi
as fine Agricultural Land as can b found on the Pacific Coast. . ,
The Grande Rondo River enters its boundary on the West and flows Lacterly through tins center
of the va'loy and thence Northerly and out at i 8 Northern limits; 30x25 miles is its length and Wtfli I
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at tlieboiun.
Mill Creek cut. ring attheKastat.il Willow. Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grnnde Ronde Vnl'ey one of tho best watered valleys in Oregon, all of tho anoo
named htreams afro'ding abundpnee of watfr the. ' eaion round.
The soil of this vallev is principally a blark, rich loom with clay subsoil, there being aout three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces ex ce lent KraUi.
The yield of AVheat, Oats, Barley. Rye, Timothv, Alfalfa and Cloer is large, tho cereals yielding
from 25 to 60 buhel per acre of Wheat 40 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.
Th produ'ingnnd 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, an immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and smalle fruits, also garden vegetables are raised In great, quantities and
innrlrnl nil In lio not rrli lvirlrr nnnttnnu Tin t t nr n nrl fill Pfcp In fllsr nnp nf Ollr Stnllle nrOllUCtS. StOCK
raising Is enganed in largely and profitably; as line stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde
Valley as anywhere. stocK men and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on fine than poor stock. The Innds of this valley have all been taken, but
choice places can he bought at from 815 to 30 per acre, when is compSratively cheap. Many large
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of (he best quality cats be had at very reasonable ra(es,
which could be divided into beveral (rood farms.
TIMBER.
Tlie hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. But little of (he (Imber land has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. R. & N. R. B. 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 mill's.
The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during tho next year from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through
the Blue Mountnns to Suminerville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse the en
tiro length of the valley through its center (o Union. Upon the building of this road the valley will
have tho best railroad facilities.
I'uget Sound, W. T., is the (ennlnal point of this line, pulling Portand, Or., and the cities of the
So"nd in competition f"r the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evicenccd by Ihe building
of this second line of rond. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde Valley, it can be paid with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is ciVeied anywhere in the Northwest for the home
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Rondo Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and Its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing industiies of nearly every kind, of which we now have
but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the fanning and dairying I usiness.
oflcring in this line advantages not to be found but in verv few places. Tlio raising of thorough bred
stock is a nroiltable business and there is hardly an Individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande Rondo Valley aud see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate herei In no
('stance 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 gaod country.
The Grande Ronde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end
of (he valley, La Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest Suminerville in the northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Hlgin in the extreme northern part of (he
valley.
The County Scat o( I'nion Comity, is situated iu the southern portion of the Fertile liraude Koude Valley, and has
the best Natural Location for a City of any town in Eastern Oregon. Situated, Just at the base of rolling hills ou both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, vhoe waters aro pure ax nature ever distilled aud held
suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing Immense waterpower just waiting to he utilized by the hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturing industries. In fact tho water power Is amply sutliclent to make Union the Lowell
of Oregon if the attention of her enterprising citizens wero turned In that direction, which will bo the case when new
blood aud Eastern capitalists come In. This Is one of tlio best places In orcgon for tho erection of manufactures.
A woolen mill is greatly needed now, aud soue energetic capitalist who Is eugaged Hi such business would find
liere the chosen spot for such au enterprise, right iu 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 consnmo is pro
duced hero In tho valley.
Tho present population of Union Is about 1,-00, but when the O. ,t W. T. railroad reaches here she will double her
population Inside of six mouths. Eager eyes are M atching 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 be put In at very little ex
penso by running a part of Catherine creek Into a largo reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all tho fall
we want from ISO 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 aud all the waste can be utilized iu furnishing power for machinery
When onco waterworks aro completed there will bo uo need for wells, springs, etc., for no purer drinking water cau bo
found.
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have In our public school, a High School Grade. Tho school Is supplied
with every posslblo convenience. Everything Is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, who believe in giving their
children a first-class education and that they can bo educated in no better way thau by having a No. 1 School at linmn
.U DLUUUI t ill LfVUV .QUI, IM IU WM( LUIUIiailliaULDl KlUliniKUl, KIIlllL'll. 31 Hill' II LN I II I
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that effect. An addition to the pieseut school building Is In coutcm Ida
Hon, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to be added. '
.Morally aim socially, union is unexcelled ana ucr nospuauty is widely known throughout tho surrounding coun
try. We havo four churches, all In a nourishing rendition. Thcro arc six secret societies, doing much good to hu
inanity. We have a number of stores of dltVcrcut kinds, all doing a profitable business, as they supply a great agricul
tural district and tho numerous mining camps iu the near vicinity. Wo are also supplied with several saloons bar
bershotis. blacksmlthshntis. etc.. one principal hotel aud several restaurants, so that tin. nwiet fuun,n.,,,u ......
cplcuriau can bo fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two first-class livery and feed stables so that straueers
coming to this town will have no trouble in procuring a flrst-chus team aud taking a drive out into tho exhllleratliie
atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain scenery, aud breathing iu the life-givlair exveen
that cau bo fouud nowhere so pure as In Union Couuty. Totlve Eastenv, who is not used to mountain scene? iicln
r l...linlillii.nnr .. I, H f 11 1 Innutlmi. 111. flr.t mill ) n vnln.it rv ...nl.i ,.Tt tni. U I. ... .1 1 u,..'l , '" ?.Lll"-rl WUeU
Our couuty Court House Is ell finished Iu every particular, having a largo and commodious hall, amply sufl
to accommodate any aud all audiences. It also has In conuectlou a Jail built by the l'auley Itros., with ill heir
sufficient
latest
Opera House Is one of the largest this sldo of 1'ortland, with handsomely decorated curtains and flulsbcd lu s'unerh
style. Ouo largo and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, Is situated adfnlii.
lnir the town. Also several raw mills lu the near vielnitv. The lumberiin; Interest la liniimi tr. i...,..,... ..i. 7 J ;
- w...... .u wvvvmu uiuiu a lea-
turo In our Industries.
Taken all In all. Union Is 0110 of tho best towns In Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has leeu kept back ou account
of poor railroad facilities, but when tho Hunt System of Hailroad is completed Into Union, Its latent resources will h
developed and It will take Its place among tho thriving cities of our land. We have one of the loveliest towns in
Oregon, aud a great deal of wealth is here already. All that is now needed is for people to come and tako advautaffn
of tho great inducements soou to be thrown at the feet of every energetic man possessing cither brains or muscle
Tho pleasure-seeker or the invalid can find uo better placo to while away the summer mouths Only tbrefl'mlleji
away cau bo found Hot Springs and Lakes reveling in medical rirtues aud curative powers tho famous itn?
Springs," ltheuinatlsm and such complaints disappearing as If by tho hand of some magician. Lovers of the ulscatnrlBi
art will find tho beauaiful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with tho gamy mountain aud brook trout In thn
edge of tho mountains larger game may Ih found, while out in tho valley along tlio Grande Uoudo river are eees!.
wau and ducks lu abundance. Iu tho tho grain field pralrlo chickens are nuito plentiful. Taking all these i nfitnrai
advantages for pleasure and business, we think people looking for a home can find uo place sunplvlmr all ttn.lr vi
better than the beautiful elty of Unlou. 1 1 1 h 11 lut,r wants
blnco tho much talked of Hunt Hailroad is an assured fact, property Is beginning to advance lu prices ihrauh .i
the preeeut time city lots aud blocks may be had at very reasonable rates. , prices, tnough at
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,
WILSON & HACKETT
Who will cheerfully furulah thorn with all tho Information desired.
XJIVXOIV, OREGON,