UNION
COUNTY
OREGON
5
5
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
j. rv i
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND.
which iTd thii harvesting month in this
sueeeHssftil gntlicrim; of crops, (iuneraily
ground stiflieiently to permit tlio farmer to
Tlio valleys art' of an average elevation ofal)ont 11,000 feet ahovi yea level, the highest inountaiii
peaks iMiing alioiit (,000 cut. and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
mimcrotifl streams the year round.
THE CLIMATE
Is dry and healthful, there, hcing a stitlieient rainfall to preserve the inoiHtnre 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.
Tho mean temperature for the winter months is ahout 20 decrees above freezing point, and for
the summer months about 70 alove zero, the heat of tho day being oll'set by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep anil rest for the fatigued
The winter season usua ly begins alx)iit the first of December and lasts till the middle of February
or lirst of March, when the husbandman is given an opportunity to orepare for his springs seeding.
I'Vom March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm and dry we.it tier is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing suficient 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,
county, the weather is usualy dry and adapted to the
enough rain falls in thu autumn months to moisten the
prepare the same for his fall gram.
There is no country in tho United .States more blessed by a healthful climate than Union County,
as the vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The various contagions provd"M in many localities are almost whollv unknown here, and are
usually very mild in their nttacl.s w hen they do iinpcar. There has only been one case of .Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills and fever are totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes" (o lay waste the country, destroy property and iho lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze the life out ot humanity. Nor do we have the fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is I, l!)7,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County ; the rest is unsurveyed, the uiisur
veyod portion being valuable for Timiier, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of the County are lirande Hondo, Indian, North Powder, ISig Creek, Hagle, Pine and Starkey. The
soil in these" valleys is well adapted to the raising of Wheat, Oats, Harley, live, 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 ' to 50 bushels to the acre, ISarlev from 10 to 70, Oats about tho same
as Hurley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bu&hels of oats has been raised to
the acre. The Mountains are covered with a Fine (Jrowth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tamrack,
Spruce, etc. The most valuable is the Pine, whiHi is used in the lumbering industry, also some of
tht! larger species of Tamrac, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply suflicicnt to supply the surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of the County are only jmrtialy developed, but sutlicient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore interline tho mountain sides, which, when
suflicicnt capital is employed in their development, will be a great factor in the general summary of
te wealth of the County." A more detailed account of the Mines and Mineral Resources of the
County will lie found further on.
JS'IXXJJv KAISIN(;.
Tlie assessment roll of flic county lor the vcar 1SSS, shows thai there, were 21.710 head of horses,
liS, 2:i Mend of Cuttle. r5,n"5 Head of Sheep, and V70 Head of Swine, showing of itself that the County
Is'u ureal Slock 11 ilsing licifioii. Thousands of head of slock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
theieor a neat profit on iholr investment.
In fact, the slock business lias been and still Is the most paying of any in the country and it
hldi fair lo continue, to he such f ir many years to i'oiiiu The bunch grtss growing upon tho hills and
moiiiitaliiH Is verv nutritious, stock fattc inn In a very short lime, ready for market. Usually stock h 's
to be fed bur for fri m nc to two months during tlio winter, but in nianv places horses will winter upon
the hunch grass ami do well. The climate Is stich that, slo k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, uivingjo work horses a at rung constitution ami powerful muscle.
The mill; c.iw hare, attains perfect! m. Sheep are very Ih'iilthy and produce heavy fleeces. The
dairying business in the lii't few years lias developed into a huge and p-'ofltaldc one, the country being
specially ninplciJ t'i the business by reason ol the milk producing qualities of the grasses and tfce ex
cellent lange, the large quantity of hay and gain raised per aire, the hcalthfuhitss of animals, tho
l.iruo water supply ami tlioiiuIcK market of Putter and Cheese. Tho Jersey, llolstiue anil Durham are
rapidly taking the pi ico of tlio common breed of cat' lo, and dairymen arc giving considerable attention
lo the orceiU' g of llicir cows. . . .
It is said more prollt can In realized per year from a milk cow in this country limn any other in the.
United Sines, one Instance being given of a single cow for one. year, yielding a nit prollt to the owner
of $175 l''si ies the calf
Two rcameries ate In operation at the Cove, in this county, whh h make 12(t,'00 pounds of cheese,
worlh 1 1 cents per pound, and 75,1m 0 pounds butter, worth 25 cents per p und.
This year a crennierv Is in operation at La (Jr tide, with what success remains to be scon, although
no doubl'ean be entertained but that it w ill prove tj lie a proiltable concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
'Pill MltlltlLr District-of Un on County are Cornucopia. Sparta and Saiiuer. Cornucopia District is
the H stern portion of the Lounty, and embraces a section about leu miles square, ithin which (hero
j about (UK! quTtz local ions. The formation Ih grauile and slale; the ledges running in a Southeartorly
1 Vnri h wosturlv direction. The lirst locations were made here In IrSI. The quartz contains Gold and
.... 11 ,in. 1... , . .
Silver, the gold predominating. oine 01 me ioiioh are iron mining, ma uiey generally coninin oiso
metal an In consequence wl 1 have to bo ireated in reduction wt rks. Assays have been made of ore from
the dilt'-rcnt groups, sh iwing an average yield of from r25 to $1 (I per ton. When tho proper luetic ds
are employed to work these ledgcH to the best advantage, Cornucopia will bo considered tlio New
"Kldurado of tho West." ,,,-,,
The Or gon Cold Mining Company, of Loulaville, Ky , is the only company represented in tho (lis
t let. It has opened up o vend of iin ledges, which wine obtained at from bill,) (HI to !j2ll,lHX) each.
The I ted Jacket, belonging to ibis company, is a well dotlneti ledge, averaging about four feet In
thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, wan found to be a mass of the golden metal. This
company has a 40 Stamp .Mill running: night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou
sand live hundred pounds of sulphurets were m-cured the tlrst month of thin spring's operations, besides
immense quantities of free yold caught upon tho ama'gain pans.
This company's expenses In bulldhufs. machinery, roads, developments, etc., has amounted to over
M00 0 0. They have 1 lie Whitman, which has a shafl sunk over l,MH) feet ami shows hotter as the work
progresses; the Alia No. 2, which Is developed suhiclently lo Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade
ore. The present superintendent. Professor Smith, is hi hly pleased with tho prospect for his company
and predicts a second I,catlvillo of Cornueipla. .Many other ledges of the enmp with 100 feet or more
of development work are showing up well, among which are the Simmons gr up, comprising tho Key
stone. Checknia'e, Kinplre and Huekeve, all situated on Iho Simmons Mountain and aiil to lie the best
group' of mines In the camp, -Iho the lilue Hell, Little Casino and Monte Chri to, situated on t he nine
i.mniii..ln mill i.Moiisions of tho Slinnious leducs, showliiK sanieurado and character of out. The V v
Up northeast of Cornucopia, snows some 01 tue ricuc'i ore 01 any 111 camp aim is no nouni
of the Hliio Hell and Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Hubert Hi
( 11111111 I tii I Hi- Mm Klower. Co and Allen. Hed Cross. Steen croupe. Stella. Tiiiei
and Queen of tho West are all snlllclontly developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain pitying
ore in great quantities. Tlio Cornucopia or Pino ( reek district is a rich ono with an unlimited amount
of ore. and only lacks capital to prove Its wonderful richness. It is destined to bo ono of tho richeat
camps In existence. . , .
The Sanger mines are operated by a San I'ranclsco Company, which lH"gan Its operations two years
ago buying the ledges for 5fl7,Oil and now cleaning up on an averaue of 970.0(H) per month. Those
mines are on the road Isd ween Union and Cornucopia, alxnit II I miles east of Union, having a tri-weekly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with I nion, their trait.
'l'hoSparta mines are at-out eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past
twenty years, still yielding large returns. Tho Sparta mines are mostly placer, but quite a number of
ledges have latelv been found which, as far as dovelopeii, indicate, good paing ore. A mill Is being
built here and good returns are ox peeled from its work.
in
are
ami
doubt an extension
linnet, l'orest
:er Hoy. Climax
c
o
u
N
T
Y
O
R
E
G
O
N
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of tho County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Oiande Hondo, whoso beauty is tecoiuii g known far and wide,
sui rounded by loftv 1111 untains upon whi'h seems to rest the blue vault above. Wherever tho eye
gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces ;0,0( 0 acres of
as line Agricultural Land as can h' found on the Pacific Coast.
The (ramie Itonfle Piver enters its boundary on Iho Wfst and flows KaMerly through the ccnler
of the va ley and thence Northerly and out at i s Northern limits; 110x25 miles is its length and bred Mi
and wiih Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Honde, entering the valley at the South,
.Mill Creek entiling at the KaM acd W illow Creek eniei ing at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Hondo Val'ey one of the best watered vallejs in Oregon, all of the above
named streams iiflb'dii'g almutlsncc of wati r the o,Ton round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich In in wiMi clay mils-oil. there being a1 out three
Townships of land having a sandy soil" knn n as the Sand ltirige, all of which produces excellent gaiu.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, Parley. Hye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yiuldi.ig
from 25 to f.O miiliel per acre of Wheat 41' to 100 for Oals and Harley, and Haj fioni 2 to 8 tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Thf producing and exporter (train and hay from this valley is large, and grow ing in quantity each
year. Hesides the production of giain and haj for export, a immense quantity of fruit-, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and sn ade fruits, al-ogar'en vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Hutter and Chcee is also one of our staple productx. Stock
raising is onjjamai in largely und pimltahly; as line stock may be seen upon the farms of XJiande Hondo
Vallej as anywheie, stocKuien and fanners alwajs seeming the last bled animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are 110 higher on fine than poor stock. The lauds of this valley have all bten taken, hilt
choice place can I e bought at from jl.r to :) per acre, wheh is coiiip.ratnel.v cheap. Many large
bodies of land ow ncd by single individuals and of the best quality ca'i be had at very icasoiialile rales,
which could he divided into several food farms.
TIM3ER.
The 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. H. & N. It. H. entering the vallev at the soH'beru portion and following the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the abey on the West, traversing the Southwestern boundary of the valley
tor a distance of 1 1 inib s.
The Hunt 1 tail mad system will be extended during the next ear from AV;ii'a Walla, W. T., through
the Hlue Mounlans to Suninierville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse tho en
tire length of the valley through its center lo Union. Upon the building of tills road the valley will
have the best railroad facilities.
Puget Sound. W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and tho cities of the
So' nil in competition f. r the trade of the Valley, the in,p"i'lniice of which is eve enced by 'lie building
of this second line of n ail. In concluding this description of Grande Honde V Hoy, it cm be mhl with
out fear of contradiction, that no better oppoMun'tv is ottered nnyw nere in the Ntirlbwjst for the homo
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Hondo Valley and its vicinity. The resources of iho valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing iudust ies of neafly eveiy kind of which we now have
but. very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the f trini g and dairying I uslitess.
oll'ering in this line advantages not to be found but in very few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a profitable business and there is hardlv an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande Honde Valley and see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
b stance have people, who have visited tin's valley given it other than the bestof reputation in regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes lo constitu'to a g3od country.
The Grande Honde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end
of the valley, La Giaude at the base of the mountains on the northwest Suuimerville in the northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Klgin in the extreme northern part of tho
valley.
i T rv 1 rs .
I'lie County N'Ht of I'nlon County, in situated in the southern portion of the Fertile (irmiilo Hnnde. Valley, nml has
the best Natural Location for a City of any town in Kastera OroRon. Situated, just at the huse of rollliiK hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkllun stream, whose waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishiiiK Immense waterpower just waiting to he utilized by the hand of
man for all kinds of nuinufurturini,' industries. In fact the water power Is amply htiillclent to make I'nlon tlio Unveil
of Ok'koii if the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which w ill be the case when new
blood and Distent capitalists come In. This Is one of the best places in Oregon for the erection of muniifacturles.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and soie energetic capitalist who is engaged is such business would Hud
here the chosen spot for Mich an enterprise, right in the heart of a great w ool-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,'JOO, but when the O A V. T. railroad reaches hero she will double her
population Inside of six mouths. Kager eyes are watching to take advantage of the present low price in property and
procure for themselves a home w here they may live in peace and plenty. Water works ciui be put In at very little ox
pense by running a part of Catherine creek into a large reservoir on the hill back of town. This w ill give all the fall
we want from IN) 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 and all the waste can be utilized In furnishing jiower for machinery
When once water works uro completed there will bo no need for wells, springs, etc., for 110 purer drink Ing water cuu bo
Our school facilities are unsurpassed. We have in our public school, a High School firade. The school Is sunnllcd
with every possible convenience. Kvei thing is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, who believe in giving their
children a tlrst-class education and that they can bo educated In no better way than bv having a No 1 School at home
The school at present Is divided Into four compartments, all thoroughly graded. Students on comnletlng tho iirI
tcrlbcd course of study receive h certificate to that ellect. An addition to the piesent school building is In conicm., "
Hon, also several hundred dollars worth of apartment is soon to be added. u,lra'"
Morally and socially, I'nlon Is unexcelled and her hospitality Is widely known throughout tho sunoundlne conn
try. Wo have four churches, all In a nourishing condition. There aro six secret societies, doing much good to hi!
inanity. We have a number of stores of dlll'erent kinds, all doing a profitable business, its they supply a great hexIchI
tural district and the numerous mining camps in the near vicinity. Wo aro also supplied w ith several saloons 1 bar
bershops, blacksmllhshops, etc., one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that tho most fastidious tastes o'f tlin
epicurlau cmi bo fully satisfied. We are also supplied with two tirst-class liverv and feed stubles to tint straiiL-vra
coming 10 huh iowu win nave no irouoie in procuring a um-cias learn ami tnuing a drive out into the exhillorHtlne
atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain scenery, and bieathlng In the life glvlaL- exieii
that can Iks found nowhere so pure as la I'lilon County. To the KuMeiiv. who Is not used to mountain sccnerv wiieii
flrat beholdlngour beautiful lnoaitlnn, his tlrst mid involuntary exclamation Is, "Paradise Found at I ni " "-u
Our county Court House is well finished in oxerv particular, having u largo and commodious hall, amnlv suillclcut
to accommodate any and all audiences, It also has in connection a jail built by the Pauley llros with all their latcsr
inmroveod cells, thus nuking things secure agHlnsf the escanoof any nrlsoacrs that nuv l r.n,,a...i .i,.....i..
Opera House is ono of thf largest this shlo ol Portland, w ith handsomely decorated curtains and finished In s'lioerh
style. One large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improcmcnt is situated adfnlii
lug the tow 11. Also several saw mills in the near vicinity. The lumbering interest is bouud to become iiulte a fea"
ture in our industries.
Taken ull In all, Union Is one of tho best towns in Kasteru Oregon,
pilte a fea-
Heretoforn slut hu lu.nn ...i. .... .
of poor railroad facilities, hut when the Hunt System of Hatlroad Is completed Into I'nlon, its latent resnnrcii! u-ni ii.
developed and It will take Its place among tho thriving cities of our and. We Imv.. ,,.', ,V ,1 )","?..".
Oregon, and a great deal of wealth is hero already All that Is now needed is for people to come and take advaiiiain
of the great inducements soou to Ik- thrown at the feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muscle
The pleasure-seeker or the Invalid ran tlnd no better place to while uwuy the summer mi.nths Only threemtl
away can lie found Hot Springs and Lakes rexellng in medical virtues and curative powers tho unions 'Kansas linr
Springs," Itheuimitlsm and such compluints disappearing as if bv the hund of some magician. Loers of tho tiUcHtnui
art will find the tx-auHlful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive w ith the gamy mountain and brook trout in th.5
edge of tho mountains larger game may bo found, while out in the valley along the (iraude Hondo river aro
HWBii and ducks in abundance. In the tho grain field prairie chickens are ijulto plentiful. Taking all these UHtiirMt
advantages for pleasure and business, wo think people looking tor a homo cuu tlnd no place MitmhiiiL- all thnir Vi i.,,i
better thuu the beautiful city of Union. 1 1 1 " laelr " uv
since the much talked of Hunt HiUlroiul Is an asurcd fact, property is beginning to advuuee in nrlceji timi,i. .
the present time city lots aud blocks may be had at very reasonubli rates. 0 1 CL ln prlcw' '"""Sh 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, iWILg()N & HACKBTT,
XJIVtOIV, OREGON
Who will cheerfully furnish them with all tho Information desired. '