UNION COUNTY, OREGON,
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
Jk. rv J
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND,
Tlio vallevs are of an average elevation of nloiit 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks being alsout 0,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams the year round.
THE CLIMATE
In dry and healthful, there being a HUflicient rainfall to preserve the moisture of the soil and mature
crops. Snow seldom fulls to the depth of one foot in the valleys, and never remains longer tlir.ii from
two to three weeks at a time.
The mean temperature for tho winter months is about 20 degrees ahove freezing point, and for
tbo summer months about 70 above zero, the heat of the day being od'set by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
Tho winter season usually begins alwut tho first of December and lasts till the middle of FoJirnnry
or first of March, when tho husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for his springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm ami dry wcatlior is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing suflcient 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 are the harvesting months in this
county, the weather is usualy dry and adapted to the successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in th autumn months to moisten tho ground sufficiently to permit tlie farmer to
prepare the same for his fall grain.
There is no country in tho United States more blessed by u healthful climate than Union County,
as the 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 oidy been one case of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chifls and lover aro totally unknown. We have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and the lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor do wo have tho fogy and damp atmosphere which is found West
of the Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There is 1 ,497,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County; tbo rest is uusurveyed, tho unsur
voyed portion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
of tho County are Urando Hondo, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. The
soil in these valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, ltyo, 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.
Tho yield of Wheat is from 23 to 50 bushels to tho acre, Barley from 40 to 70, Oats al)out tho same
ns Barley, with exceptions in boiiio localities, when as high as 100 bushels of oats has been raised to
the acre. Tho Mountains aro covered with a Flno Growth of Timber, consisting of Pino, Tamrack,
Spruce, etc. The most valuable is tho Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
tho larger species of Tamrae, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which
is amply sullicient to supply tho surrounding country for ages.
The mineral resources of the County are only partialy developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been done to prove that great ledges of oro mtorlino tho mountain sides, which, when
sullicient 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 Resources of tho
County will bo found further on.
STOCK 3RVIJSIIVC-.
The assessment roll of the county tor tho year 19K8, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
28,121 Head of Cnttle, 55,nn5 Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of Itself that tho County
is o great Slock Raising Region. Thousands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
theti'of a neat protlt on their investment.
In fact, tho stock business lias been and still Is tho most paying of any in the country and it
bids fair to continue to be such for many years to come. The bunch grass growing upon the hills and
mountains Is verv nutritious, stai.lv fattening in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock 1ms
to he fed liar for from one to two months during the whiter, but in manv places horses will winter upon
the bunch grass ami do well, l'iio climate is such that sto k rained is of a hardy and heulthful charac
ter, Klvlnglo work horses a strong constitution and powerful muscle.
The milk cow horo attains perfection. Sheep are very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. The
dairying business In tho la-t few years has developed Into a largo and profitable one, tho country being
specially adapted to the business by reason of the milk producing qualities of the grasses and tke ex
cellent lange, the large quantity of hay and gain raised per acre, tho heal thf illness of animals, tho
large water supply and the (illicit market of Hotter and Cheese. Tho Jersey, llolstino mid Durham are
raHdly taking the place of the common breed of cattle, and dairymen aro giving considerable attention
to tlio l-rcedlfg of their cows.
It Is said more prollt can 1)9 realized per year from a milk cow in this country than any other in the
United Stales, one hist auco being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net prollt to tho owner
of 175 besi ies the calf
Two-rcumcilcs aro in operation at the Cove, in this county, whl- h make 12001) pounds of cheese,
wort n 1 1 t ents per pound, and fo.ix u pounds nuiier, worm -i eeius per p unu.
This year a creumery is In operation at La Grndo, with what success remaii
no doutit can lie entertained nut mat n win prove to no a prouiaoio concern.
ITS MINING RESOURCES.
ins to lie seen, although
I lie twining Wlsirici oi un on i.ouniy aro Lornucopin, spuria ami Banger, cornucopia Uistrl
in tho K stern portion of the County, and emhrnc't a section about ten miles square, within which
are aiiout isuu qunz locations, me lormauon in gronueunii siaie; ine lunges running in a fcoutnear
and Northwesterly direction. The first locations were made hern in 1881. The quartz contains Gob
Silver, the gold predominating
Cornucopia District is
there
learturly
nuartz contains Gold mul
Some of tho lodes aro free milling, but they generally contain base
metal an in eonsoiiuonco will have to bo treated in reduction works. Assays have been made of ore from
the dilleront groans, showing an average yield of from 25 to h 0 per ton. When tho proper methrds
aro employed to work these ledges to the best advantage, Cornucopia will ba considered the New
"Kldorado of the West."
Tho Or gon Gold Mining Company, of LouUville, Ky , is the only company represented in the dis
trict. It has opened up everal of il ledges, which weie obtained at from fclO.l'OO to $20,000 each.
Thu Hod Jacket, belonging to ,,,is company, is a well defined ledge, averaging about four feet in
thickness and when struck on the lowest tunnel, was found to be a mass of tlio golden metal. This
company has a 10-Htamp Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Suven thou
sand live hundred poumU of sulphuruts were secured the Hist month of this spring's operations, besides
immense quantltiot of free gold caught upon tho amalgam pans.
This company's expenses in buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., has amounted to over
SHOO 0 0. They have iho Whitman, which ha a sliaft sunk over 1,500 feet and shows better as the work
i grado
lany
1 mom
of development work are showing up well, among which are tho Simmons group, comprising the Key
stone. Checkma'e, Umpire and Huckeye, all situated on tho blmnions Mwuntaln and atd to bo the best
group of mines In the camp. lso the Hluo Hell, Little Casino and Monto Chri to, situated on the fame
mountain and extensions of the Simmons ledges, showing same grade and character of ore. Tho Way
Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows homo of tho riehet oro of any In camp and is no doubt an extension
of the Hluo Hell and Simmons group. Tho Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Robert Emmet, F'orest
Queen, Red Hoy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Red Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Roy. Climax
and (juooiiof tho West are all sulllelently developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying
oro in great quantities. The Cornucopia or Pine Creek district I a rich one with an unlimited amount
of ore and only lacks capital to prove its wonderful richness. It Is destined to be. one of tho rlcheut
camps in existence. ...
The Sanger mines aro operated by a San 1' ranclsco I ompany, which began Its cpe rations tw o vears
ago, buy lug tho ledges for 17,010 and now cleaning up on an averaue of tJ70,(H'(l per month. Theu
mines are on tho road between Union and Cornucopia, about H miles east of Union, having a tri-weokly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed in direct communication with Union, their trad-
UK i'ho'sparta mines aro alout. eight miles southeast of Sanger and have boon worked for tho 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 fsr as developed, indicate good paying ore. A mill is being
built here and good returns aro un peeled from its work.
?;i()U u (i, 1 hey uavo me w niunau, wmcu :un a unu huiik over i,ouu ieot ami snows better as the wo
progresses; the Alt No. 2, which Is developed sulliciently to indicate a well dellned ledge of high gra
ore. Tho present superintendent. Professor Smith, Is liluhly pleased with the prospect for his compa
anil predicts a second Leadvlllo of Cornucopia. Manv other ledges of tho camp with 100 feet or mc
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Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of tho County, the Largest, most Fertile and attracti ve
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Ronde, whose beauty is lecoming known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vault above. Wherever the eje
gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. Tills valley embraces a00,0l 0 acres of
as tine Agricultural Land as can b foun'd on the Pacific Coast.
The Grande Ronde River enters ils boundary on the West and Hows Evterly through the cenjer
of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at its Northern limit; 30x25 miles Is its length and bredih
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at the South,
Mill Creek entering at the Fast and Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Ronde Val'ey ono of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named streams affb'dmg abundance of water the eason round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich Inm with clay subsoil, there being a' 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. Rye, Timothv, Alfalfa and Clover is large, the cereals yielding
from 25 to 0 bushel" per acre of Wheat, 40 to 100 for Oats and Barley, and Hay from '.' to 8 tons per acre;
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut in one season.
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Th produ-ing anH export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing in quantity each
year. Besides the production of giain and hay for export, an immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, Pears and smaile fruits, aUo garden vegetables are raised in great quantities and
marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheese is also one of our staple products. Stock
raising is engaged in largely and profitably; as line stock may be seen upon the farms of Gtaude Ronde
Valley as anywhere, stockmen and farmers always securing the best bred animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on line than poor stock. The lauds of this valley have all been taken, but
choice places can I'o bought at from j$15 to !I0 per acre, which is comparatively cheap. Many large
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality ca i be had at very reasonable rales,
which could be divided into several irood farms.
TIMBER.
The hills and mountains are covered with timber of the best quality for lumbering purposes and
easily reached. But little of the timber land has been entered or taken up
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
The O. R. & N. R. R. entering the valley at the southern portion and following the foothills on the
Southwest, passes out of the vuhey on tho West, traversing the Southwestern boundury of the valley
for a distance of 14 miles.
The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next j ear from Wol'a Walla, W. T., through
the Blue Mountans to Summerville, 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, W. T., is the terminal point of this line, putting Portand, Or., and the cities of tho
So' nd in competition for the trade of the Valley, the importance of which is evioenced bv Hie building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde Valley, it can be i-aid with
out fear of contradiction, that no better oppoMun'tv is ofl'ered any wnere in the Northwest for tho home
seeker or capitalists than in Grando Ronde Valley and its vicinity. The resources of iho valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing iudusti ies of nearly every kind, of which we now have
but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the frml"g and dairying I usiness.
ollcring 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 thatbiiMness at present.
To visit Grande Ronde Valley nd see it and to investigate its advantages, is to locate here. In no
ir stance have people, who have visited this valley given it other than the bust of reputation in regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a g3od country.
The Grande Ronde Valley has several considerable towns and villages: Union in the southern end
of the valley, La Grande at the base of the mountains on the northwest Summerville In the northern
end of the valley, Cove about midway on the east side, and Elgin in the extreme northern part of tho
valley.
UNION,
The County Seat of Union County, is sltUHteii in the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Hondo Valley, and has
the best Natural Location for a City of any town in Eastern Oregon. Situated, just at the have of rolling hills on both
sides of Cathnrlne Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whose waters an! pure as nature ever distilled and held
suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing Immense waterpower just waiting to be utilized by the hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturing industries. In fact the water power is amply sullicient to make Union the Lowell
of Oregon if the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned In that direction, which will be the ease when new
blood and Kasteru capitalists come In. This Is one of tho best places in Oregon for the erection of manufactures.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, and soio energetic capitalist who is engaged in such business would find
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 lu abundance, aud In fact everything that such a business would consume is pro
dnced here in the valley.
Tho present population of Union is about 1,200, but when the O. A W. T. railroad reaches hero slie will double her
population Inside of six mouths. Eager eyes are watching to take advautago of the present low prices in property aud
procure for themselves a home where they may live in peace aud plenty. Water works can bo put lu at very little ex
pense by running apart of Catherine creek into a large reservoir ou the hill back of town. This will give all the fall
we waut from ISO feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump aud tho necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can be; made to run directly luto the reservoir and all the waste can bo utilized lu furnishing power for machinery
nuii uueu wmi-i nurw uiv uuiujuvii-u un-ru 111 uu uu uvcu lur tteus, spruigs, etc., ior uo purer drinking water can be
found.
Our school facilities arc unsurpassed.
We have in our public school, a High School Grade.
The school Is supplied
children a first-class education and that they cau be educated lu uo better wav than by having a No 1 school at home
The school at preseut is divided into four compartments, all thoroughly graded. .Students on completing tho ir
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that elleet. An addition to the present school building Is in coiitemnla
tion, also several huuilred dollars worth of apartmeuts is soou to be added. 1
aiorany ami socially, union is unexcelled anu ner iiospiiamy is widely Knowu throughout tho surrounding coun.
; Wo have four churches, all lu a nourishing condition. There are six secret societies, doiinr much m .!
It v. we have a number of stores of dlflercnt kinds, all doing a nrotltablc business, as ilu.v an,.i.- .. ......, i:.
district aud the numerous mining camps In the near vicinity. Wo are also suntillnl u lti. l.., f.r.,i ..i.i,.r '""
ps, blacksmlthshops, etc., one principal hotel and several restaurants, so that the most fastldlmih tnt,.u At ih
riail cau be fully satisfied. We are also suiitdled with two nrst-class liverv and fml ntuhlnu n.-.
Is town will nave no trouble lu nroeurlug a nrst-clais team and tatlm? a ilriv.i nut Int.. n... vi.iu.....ri..
feasting his eyes upon the grandeur of our mountain seeuerv. and litcHthlm- in n,.. uf...r,.i.,.. . . ' ...L '.h
nowhere so pure as in Union County. To the Easteuv, who Is not used to mountain vi-..m.?v w-i.om
our beautiful locution, his ilrst and involuntary exclamation Is, "Paradise Found at Last
Our county Court House Is well llnithed lu eery particular, having a large and commodious hall, amnlv sufficient
to accommodate any aud all audiences, it also has in connection a jail built by the l'aulev Pros., with nil their latest
lmproveed cells, thus nuking things secure against the escape of any prisoners that mav'bo confined thurelu Our
Opera House Is one of the largest this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains aud finished In s'uiierb
style. One large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller process, with all modern improvements, is situated adfofn.
ing the town. Also several saw mills lu tho near vicinity. The lumbering iuterest is bound to become oulto tit.
turo In our industries. ' 1 u a 'n
try
man
tural
bersho
emeu
coming to tli
atmosphere and
that cau bo found
lirat beholding
Taken all lu all. Union Is one of the best towus in Eastern Oregon.
of poor riillroa.i facilities, but when the Hunt System of Kailroad Is coin
developed anu u win iiiko us place among ino iiiriving cities oi our
Heretofore she has been kept back on account
lilcted into Union, Its latent resources will be
land. We have one of tlio loveliest towns in
Oregon, and a great deal of wealth Is here already All that is now misled is for people to come and take advautaen
of the great inducements soon to be thrown at the feet of every energetic man possessing either brains or muscle b
Tho pleasure-seeker or tho Invalid can find no better place to while away the summer mouths. Only threo'mileg
Springs," Klieuinatism and such complaints disappearing as if by tho hand of some magician, levers of tho iiiscatorVal
art will find the beaualful sparkling vtators of Catherine creek alive with tho gamv mountain and brook trout. In tlio
l'iiki' in i.iv iinMiiiiiilun iiiikvi j.nu u iuj uv tiiuuui , ...it: uufc , t.ju , it,.;, mijML nil? itrMiini, ,(,11111.1 , vu.
wan and ducks in abundance
advantages for measure
better than the beautiful
idauce. In the the grain Uehl prairie chickens are quite plentiful. Taking all thee natural
and business, wo think people looking for a home cau liiid no place supplying all their u'ni
I oltv- of UiHnn. iiama
Since the much talked oi Hunt Kailroad Is an assured fact, property is beginning to advance lu prices thoneli ni
preseut tituo city lots and blocks may bo had at very reasonable rates. ' 8" 01
tho
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,
Who will cheerfully furnish Uiem with all tho information desired.
TJTVIOIV, OREGOIV,