UNION
COUNTY
OREGON
9
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAN
Tlio valleys nre of nn average elevation of nhotit 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
penka being nbout 0,000 feet mid continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams the year round.
THE CLIMATE
Ib dry and healthful, there being a sufllciont 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 threo weeks at a time.
The .mean temperature for the winter months is about L'O decrees above freezing point, and for
tho summer months about 70 nlioro zero, the heat of the day being ofl'sct by cool .nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
The winter season usually begins uliout tho first 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 let, tho monotony of warm and dry weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing suflcient moisture to tho ground and tempering tho atmosphere so as to assure tho
farmer an abundant yield.
During tho months of July, August, and September, which aro the harvesting months in this
county, the weather is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain fulls in thu autumn months to moisten the ground sufficiently 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 climate than Union County,
as the vigor and 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 attacks when they do annear. There has only been ono ease of Smallpox in
Union County sinco its settlement, and chills anil lover aro totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste the country, destroy property and the lives of peoplo. nor blizzards to
freeze? the life out of humanity. Nor do wo have the fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
4 SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1,107,500 Acres of Surveyed Land itf tho County ' the rest is unsurveyed, tho unsur
veyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of tho County aro Urando Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eaglo, l'ine and Starkey. The
soil in these valloyo is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Itye, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such no Apples, I'lums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of tho smaller varieties grow to perleetion. '
Tho yield of Wheat is from 23 to GO bushels to the aero, Barloy from 40 to 70, Oats about tho same
as Barley, with exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to
the acre. Tho Mountains aro covered with a Ftno Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Tamrack,
Spruce, etc. Tho most valuable is the Pine, which is used in the lumbering industry, also some of
tho larger species of Tamrac, hut this 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 aro only partialy developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great ledges of ore interline the mountain sides, which, when
sulllcient capital is employed in their development, will bo a great factor in tho general summary of
t'o wealth of the County. A more detailed account of tho Mines and Mineral Itesources of tho
County will bo found further on.
STOCK JvrfSIINO.
Tle assessment roll of tho county lor the year 1888, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
28,liil Head of Cuttle, 55,fWi Head of Sheep, anil 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of itself that tho County
Is a great Stock Haling Ronton. Thousands of head of stock aro yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof a neat pro lit on their investment.
In fact, the stock business lias been and still is tho most paying of any in tho country and it
bids fair to continue to bo such for many years to come. The hunch grass growing upou the hills and
mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening In a very short tinio, roady for market. Usually stock Iihs
to ho fed bar for from ono to two months during the winter, but in many places horses will winter upon
the bunch grass and do well, f ho climate Is such that sto k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, glvlnglo work horses a strong constitution and powerful muscle.
Tho milk cow hero attains perfection. Sheep are vory healthy and produce heavy Heeces. The
dairying business In the lavt few years has developed into a largo and profitable one, the country being
specially aiapted to tho business by reason of tho milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex
cellent range, the large quantity of hay and grain raised per acre, tho healthfulness of animals, the
largo water supply and ttiuqulcic marketof Mutter and Cheese. Tho Jorst y, Holstine ond Durham are
raiudly taking tho place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen aro giving considerable attention
to the lireedliig of their cows.
It Is said more nrollt can ba realized per yenr from a milk cow In this country than any other in tho
United Slaies, one Instance being given of a single cow for ono year, yielding a net profit to tho owner
of ?175 besi ies the calf
Two mi ameiles aro In operation at tho Cove, In this county, whbh make RM.fOO pounds of cheese,
worth M cents per pound, and 75,(X 0 pounds butter, worth 25 cents per ptund,
This year a creamery is In operation at La (Jrndo, with what success remains to be seen, although
no doubt can be entertained but that It will prove to lie a profitable concern,
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
The Mining Districts of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
In the 1C Mem portion of the County, and embraces a section about ten iiiIIch i-qunre, within which there
are about (K)U qusrtz locations. The formation In granite and slate; the ledges running In a Southeiirturly
and Northwesterly direction. Tho first locations were nuido hern in 1881. The quartz contains Uold and
Sliver, tho gold predominating. Some of tho lodes are free milling, but they generally contain baso
metal nn In consequence will have to be treated in reduction works. Assays have been made of ore from
tho dlUVront groups, showing an avemgo yield of from S"25 to $b 0 per ton. When tho proper methrds
aro employed to work these ledges to the best advantago, Cornucopia will ba considered the New
Kldorado of the West."
The Oregon Gold Mining Company, of LouUvillo, Ivy , Is the only company represented In tho dis
ttlct. It has opened tip several of lis ledges, which weto obtained at from SlU.rOO to 20,000 each.
Tlio Bod Jacket, belonging to thin company, Is a well detlnci ledge, averaging about four feet In
thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, was found to be a mass of the golden metal. This
company has a -lO Stamp Mill running night and day upon tho oro taken from this ledge. Seven thou
sand live hundred pounds of sulphurets were Bccurcd tho first. month of thU spring's operations, besides
immense quantities of free ".old caught upon the amalgam pans.
This company's expense in buildings, maclilnory, roads, development, etc., has amounted to over
300 0 10. They have the Whitman, which has a shaft sunk over 1,500 feet and shows lietteras tho work
progresses; the Alta No. 2, which Is developed sulllcleutly to Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade
ore. The present superintendent. Professor Smith, Is hlahly pleased with tho prospect for his company
and predicts a second I.eadvlllo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of tho camp with 100 feot or more
Of development work aro showing up well, among which aro tho Simmons grrtip, comprising the Key
stone, Checkmate, Kmplro and Buckeye, all situated on tho Simmons Mountain and aid to bo the l est
group of mines in the camp, slso the Blue Bell, Little Casino and Monte Clirl to, situated on thei-nine
mountain and extensions of tho Simmons ledges, showing mmogrado and character of ore. The AVay
Up. northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of the richest oro of any In camp and U no doubt an extension
of tho Blue Boll and Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Hobert Kniniet, Forest
Queen, Bed Boy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Bed Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Boy, Climax
and Queen of the West are all sulllcleutly developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying
oro In great quantities. The Cornucopia or Pino 'reek district ii a rich ono with an unlimited amount
of oro and only lacks capital to prove its wonderful richness. It Is destined to bo ono of tho richest
camps in existence.
Tho Sanger mines are operated by a San Francisco Company, which began Its operations two vears
ago, buying the ledges for $I7,(K0 and now cleaning up on an avoraue of $70,000 per month. These
mines aro on tho road lietwcen Union and Cornucopia, aooutll'l miles east of Union, having a tn-weekly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with Union, their trail
ing point.
I.'iIl'i'h havo lately been found which, as fir as developed. Indicate rood tiavliux ore. A mill Is lln.r
built hero and good returns aro expected from its work.
tw
The Sparta mines aro tOxiur. eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for tlio past
renty years, still yielding largo returns. Tho Snarta mines aro mostly placer, but quite a number of
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Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attract i.ve
Valley of Union County, is tho Famous Grande Bonde, whose beauty is econiii g known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mruntains upon which seems to lest the blue VMiIt above. Wherever the eje
gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces Ht0,0l 0 acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as can b" found on the Pacific Const.
The (.rande Hondo Hiver enters its boundary nn the Wfst nnd flows Knsterly through the center
of the va'Ii-y and thence Northerly and out at Its Northern limits; 30x25 miles is its length and breibh
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Bonde. entering the valley at the t-'outli,
Mill Creek entering at the KaM and Willow Crock entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Bonde Val'ey one of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named streams afTb'ding abundance of water the eat-on rourd.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lom wiih clay sub-soil, there being al out three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellent grain.
The yield of Wheat, Oats, Barley. Bye, Timothy, Alfalfa and Cloer is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to f.O buthel 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 beiiig cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Tim producing and export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing In quantity each
yenr. Besides the production of giain and hay for export, a immense (inutility of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, I'ears and smaile fruits, al?o garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketeddn the neighboring sections. Butter and Chcc.-e is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engaceu iii largely and profitably; as line stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Bonde
Valley as anywhere, stockmen anil farmers alwnjs seeming the best bted animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on line than poor stock. The lauds of this valley have all been tali en, but
choice place can ho bought at from 15 to 110 per acre, winch is coinp.salively cheap. Mary largo
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality cau be had at very reasonable rates,
which could be divided Into several crood farms.
TIM3En.
The hills and mountains are covered with timber of tho best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. But little of the timber land has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
Tho O. B. & N. B. B. entering the valley at the southern portion and following the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the valley on tho West, traversing tho Southwestern boundary of the valley
for a distance of 14 miles.
The Hunt Railroad system will be oxtended during the next jcar from AVaPa Walla, "W. T., through
the Blue Mountaus to Summcrville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traverse the en
tire length of the valley through Its center to Union. Upon the building of this road the valley will
have the best railroad facilities.
Puget Sound, V. T., is tho terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and tho cities of tho
So i in! in competition for the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evidenced by I he building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Bonde Vlley, it enri be said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better oppoMunitv Is tillered any wnere in the Northwest for tho homo
seeker or capilalists than In Grande Bonde? Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing industiies of nearly every kind, of which wo now havo
but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the ftriuiig and dairying I usiuess.
ottering in this lino advantages not to ho found but in verv few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a profitable business and there is hardly an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande Bonde Valley and see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate herev In no
instance havo 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 g3od country.
The Grande Bonde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union In tho southern end
of the valley, La Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest Summerville in tho northern
end of tho valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Elgin in the extreme northern part of the
valley.
UNION,
Tho County Seat of Union County, is situated in the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Koiulu Valley, and has
the best Nutural location for n City of imy town in Kasteru Oregon. SltiiHted, just at the base of rolling hills on both
sides of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters are pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing immense waterpowcr Just waiting to bo utilized by tho hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturing industries. In fact the water power Is amply sulllcient to make Union the Lowell
of Oregon If tho attention of her enterprising citizens were turned in that direction, which will ho the ease when new
blood and F.astcrn capitalists como In. This Is one of tho best places in oregou for the erection of miunifacturies.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed uow, and soio energetic capitalist who is engaged lu such business would And
hero tho chosen spot for such an enterprise, right in tho heart of a great wool-growing section of tho couutry. No
high freights to pay, water-power In abundance, and In fact everything thut such a business would consume is pro
duced hero lu the valley.
Tho present population of Union is about 1,200, but when tho O. A W. T. railroad reaches hero she will double her
population Inside of six mouths. Kager eyes aro watching lo tako advantago of tho present low prices in property and
procure for themselves a home where they may live In peace and plenty. Water works can be put In at very little ex
pense by running apart of Catherine creek Into a large reservoir on tho hill back of town. This will give all tho fall
we want from 150 feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump und tho necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can be; made to run directly Into the reservoir and all the waste can bo utilized lu furnishing power for machinery.
When once waterworks aro completed there will bo no need for wells, sprlugs, etc., for no purer drinking water can bo
found.
Our school facilities aro unsurpassed. Wo have in our public school, a High School Grade. The school Is supplied
with every posslblo convenience. Everything Is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, wbo believe In giving their
children a first-class education and that they can bo educated lu no better way than by having a No. 1 School ut home.
The school at present is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded. Students on completing tho pro
scribed course of study receive a certillcate to that cllect. An addition to tho present school building is in contempla
tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments Is toon to bo added.
Morally and socially, Union is unexcelled aud her hospitality Is widely known throughout tho surrounding coun
try. We have four churches, all in a llouristiing condition. There are six secret societies, doing much good to hu
ninnily. Wo havo a number of stores of dlllerent kinds, all doing a profitable business, us they supply a great agricul
tural district mid the numerous mining camps In the near vicinity. Wo aro also supplied with several saloons, bar
bershops, blacksinlthshops, etc., one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes of the
cplctiffau cmi bo fully satisfied. Wo aro also supplied with two tlrst-eluss livery and feed stables so that strangers
coming to this town will have no trouble lu procuring a first-class team and taking a drivo out iuto the exhllleratlug
atmosphere and feasting his oyes upon tho grandeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing lu the llfe-glvlug oxygen
that can be found nowhere so pure as in I'nlou Comity. To the Kasteuv. who Is not used to mountain scenery, when
first beholdlngotir beautiful locution, his first and Involuntary exclamation Is, "Paradise Found at Last."
Our county Court Houso Is wvll finished In every purtlcular, having a large and commodious hall, amply sufficient
to accommodate any und all audiences. It also has in connection a Jail built by the I'uuley Bros., with ill their latest
Improvced cells, thus niHking things secure acaiiirflho eseapu of any prisoners that may bo confined thorelu. Our
Opera House Is one of the lurgest this side of I'ortlund, with handsomely decorated curtains and finished in superb
style. Ouo largo and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller proeos, with all modern improvements, Is situated adjoin
ing tho town. Also several saw mills lu tho near vicinity. The lumbering interest is bound to become quite a fea
ture in our Industries.
Taken all lu all, Union Is one of the best towns In Kastern Oregon. Heretofore she has been kept back on account
of poor ralltoail facilities, hut when the limit System of Itallroad is completed Into Union, its lutein resources will bo
developed and It will tako Its place among tho thriving cities of our laud. We have one of tho loveliest towns In
Oregou, mid a great deal of wealth is here already. All that Is now needed Is for peoplo to como aud take advantage
of tho great iuducemeuts soon to be thrown at tho feet of every euergetio man possessing cither brains or muscle.
Tho pleasure-seeker or tho Invalid can find no better place to whilo away the summer mouths. Only threo miles
away can Ik) found Hot Springs and l.nkes reveling lu medical virtues aud curative powers tho famous -'Kausas Hot
Springs," lthciunutlsm and such compluluts disappearing as if by tho hand of some mugtclau. Lovers of tho piscatorial
art will find the heauatful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with tho gamy mouutain and brook trout. In tho
edge of tho mountains larger game may bo found, while out in the valley along the Urando Hondo river are geese
swan and ducks In abundance. Ill tho the grain field prairie chickens aro quite plentiful. Taking all these natural
advantages for pleasure ami business, wo think peoplo looking for a homo can find no placo supplying all their wants
better than the beautiful city of Union.
Since the much talked of limit Kailroad is an assured fact, proporty is beginning to advaueo in prices, thouch it
the present 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, ,
Jfe HACKFiTT,
TTWIOIV, OREGON,
Who will cheerfully furnish them wltii all tho information desired.