UNION COUNTY, OREGON,
IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE
AND
COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND.
The valleys nreof an average elevation of about 2,000 feet above sea level, the highest mountain
peaks licing alioiit 0,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for
numerous streams thoyear round.
THE CLIMATE
Ts dry anil healthful, there being a sufficient 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.
Tho mean temperature for the winter months is about 20 degrees above freezing point, and for
tho summer months about 70 nlxwu zoro. the heat of tho day being offset by cool nights that ensure
refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued
Tho winter season usually begins about tho first of December and lasts till the middle of Fabruary
or first of March, when tho husbandman is given an opportunity to prepare for his springs seeding.
From March 1st to July 1st, tho monotony of warm and dry weather is broken by frequent showers
of rain furnishing sufiuient 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 iH this
county, tho weather is usualy dry and adapted to tho successful gathering of crops. Generally
enough rain falls in tho autumn months to moisten the ground sufficiently to permit tho farmer to
prepare the sumo for his fall grain.
There is no country in tho United States more blessed by a healthful climato than Union County,
as tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove.
The various contagions prevalent in many localities aro almost wholly unknown hero, and are
usually very mild in their attacks when they do aupear. There has only boon ono case of Smallpox in
Union County since its settlement, and chills and fever aro totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes
or hurricanes to lay waste tho country, destroy property and tho lives of people, nor blizzards to
freeze tho life out of humanity. Nor lo wo have tho fogy and damp atmosphero which is found West
of tho Cascade Mountains.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
o is 1,497,500 Acres of Surveyed Land in the County ; the rest is unsurveyed, the tinstir
rtion being valuable for Timber, Pasture and abounding in Mineral Deposits. The valleys
There
voved nort
of tho County aro Grande Hondo. Indian. North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkey. Tho
soil in those valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Ryo, Timothy, Clover and
Alfalfa, Vegetables and Fruits, such as Apples, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, strawberries, and
in fact all of tho smaller varieties grow to perfection.
Tho yield of Wheat is from 23 to 50 bushels to tho acre, Barley from 40 lo 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 Fine Growtli of Timber, consisting of Pino, Tamrack,
Spruco, otc. Tho most valuable is tho Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of
tho largor species of Tamrac, but 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 tho County aro only partialy developed, but sufficient prospecting and
mining has been dono to prove that great ledges of ore interline tho mountain sides, which, when
sufficient 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 iivisirvo.
The assessment roll of tho county tor tho year 1WS8, shows that there were 21.740 head of horses,
28,12.1 Head of Cntllo, 55.r5 Head of Sheep, anil 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of itself that th County
Is a great Stock Raining Region. Thousands of head of stock are yearly shipped, bringing to the owners
thereof a neat protlt on ihelr investment.
In fact, the stock business has 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 coinu. The bunch grass growing upon the lulls and
mountains Is very nutritious, stock fattening in a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock Ins
to ho fed liar for from ono to two mouths during the winter, but in inanv places horses will winter upon
the hunch grass and do well, f ho climate is such that sto k raised is of a hardy and healthful charac
ter, ulvliur to work horses a stroim constitution and powerful muscle.
Tho milk cow hero attaint perfection. Sheep are very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. Tho
by reason ol tlio mill; producing qualities ot l lie grasses anil the ox
cedent ranue. the large nuantlty of
dairying business In tho la-1 few years has developed into a largo and profitable one, the country being
specially aKapteu t3 tlio Dullness iv
ulok market of Butter and Cheese. The Jersey, Holstiue and Durham are
largo water supply anil tun qui
rapidly tuning mo place oi ine
to the in e(tl"g of tlielr cows
hay and g aiu raised per acre, the heulthfutuess of aniuiuls, tho
irkot of Butter and Cheese. The Jersey. Holstiue and Durham are
common breed of cattle, and dairymen are giving considerable attention
It. Is h.-ilil morn nrnllt ran In realized nor year from a milk cow In this country than any other in the
United Siiites, ono Instance being given of a single cow for one j ear, yielding a net prolit to tlio owner
of $175 besides the calf
Tw reanieries aro In operation at the Cove, In this county, whuh mako 12O,CO0 pounds of cheese,
worth I I cents per pound, and 75,( 0 pounds butter, worth 25 cents por p-.und.
This year a creamery is In operation at La Grande, with what success remains to bo seen, although
no doubt can he entertained but that it will prove to bo a prolltahlo concern.
ITS MINING. RESOURCES.
The Mining Dlsti lets of Un'on County aro Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District is
in the 10 htern portion of the County, and cinbriicis a section about ten miles hquare, within which there
are about tSOU iiurtz locations. Tho formation In granite and slate; the ledges running In a Soutliearterly
and Northwesterly direction. Tho first locations were made here in 1884. The quartz contains Gold and
Silver, tho gold predominating. Some of tlio lodot aro free milling, but they generally contain base
metal an in consequence wi'l have to bo treated In reduction works. Assays have been made of ore from
the dllloront groups, showing an average yield of from r25 to $1 0 per ton. When the proper methods
ore employed to work these ledges to tho best advantage, Cornucopia will bo considered the New
'Kldorado of the West."
Tho Or gon Gold Mining Company, of LouUvillc, Ky . Is the only company represented in tho dis
trict. It has opened up'ovorul of lis ledges, which weio obtained at from $1(I,('00 to $20,000 each.
The Bed Jacket, belonging to this company, Is a well denned ledge, averaging about four feet In
thickness and when struck on tho lowest tunnel, was found to bo a mass of the golden metal. This
company lias a 10-Stamp Mill running night and day upon the ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou
sand live hundred pounds of sulphurets were secured tho first month of this spring's operations, besides
Immense quantities of free gold caught upon the amalgam pans.
This company's expense in buildings, machinery, roads, developments, etc., hat amounted to over
?300 0 0. They have tlio Whitman, which hat a shaft sunk over 1,500 feet and shows better as the work
progresses; the Alta No. 2, which is developed sufficiently to Indicate a well defined lodge of high grade
ore. The present superintendent. Professor Smith, is hlohly pleased with the prospect for his company
and predicts a second Leadvillo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of tho camp with 100 feet or more
of development work are showing up well, among which are tho Simmons group, comprising the Key
stone, Checknia'e, Empire and Buckeye, all situated on tho Simmons Mountain and raid to be the best
group of mines In the camp. lso the Blue Boll, Little Casino and Monte Chri to, situated on tho panic
mountain and extensions of tho Simmons ledges, showing same grade and character of ore. Tho Way
Up, northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of tho richest ore of any in camp and W no doubt an extension
ot the Blue Bell and Simmons group. The Union, Companion. Last Chun e. Robert Emmet, Forest
Queen, Bed Boy, May Flower, Cox and Allen, Bed Cross, Steen groupe, Stella, Tiger Boy. Climax
and Queen of tho West are all sulllclontly developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying
oro In great quantities. Tho Cornucopia or Pino Creek district Is a rich one with an unlimited amount
of oro and only lacks capital to prove its wonderful richness. It is destined to be one of the richest
camps In existence. .., ...
Tho Sanger mines are operated by a San l'rancisco Company, which began its operations two years
ago, buying the ledges for 947,0X0 and now cleaning up on an avorapo of 870,000 per month. These
nitnos aro on tlio road between Union and Cornucopia, about H I miles cast of Union, having a tn-wcekly
mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed In direct communication with Union, their trait-
llio'sparta mines oro about eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for tho past
twenty years, still yielding large returns. The Sparta mines aro mostly placer, but quite a number of
ledges have latelv been found which, as far as developed, indicate good paying ore. A mill Is being
built hero and good returns are exported front Us work.
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AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive
Valley of Union County, is the Famous Grande Ronde, whose beauty is I ecomh'g known far and wide,
surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue voult above. Wherever the eye
gazes It cannot help being enchanted by our beautiful scenery. This valley embraces iJOO.OtO acres of
as fine Agricultural Land as can b found on the Pacific Coast.
The Grande Ronde Piver enters its boundary' on the West and flows Easterly through the center
of the va'lpy and thence Northerly and out at i s Northern limits; 30x25 miles l its length and bredth
and with Catherine Creek, the largest tributary of the Grande Ronde entering the valley at the south.
Mill Creek entering at the East and Willow Creek entering at the North, with numerous other small
tributaries, make the Grande Ronde Val'ey one of the best watered valleys in Oregon, all of the above
named streams aflb'dlng abundance of water the eason round.
The soil of this valley is principally a black, rich lom with clay subsoil, there being a-out three
Townships of land having a sandy soil, known as the Sand Ridge, all of which produces excellont grain.
The yield of wheat, Uats, Liarley, Hyc, Tlmotliy, Aiiaita ami uiover is large, uie cereais yiemmg
n 2o to 0 butheN per acre of Wheat 40 to 100 for Oats and Barley, and Hay froi
from
frequently three crops of Alfalfa being cut In one season
from 2 to 8 tons per acre;
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.
Th produ lug and 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, a'i immense quantity of fruits, including Ap
ples, Plums, Prunes, "Pears and smailo 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 fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronde
Valley as anywhere, stockmen and farmers always securing the best bred . animals for breeding pur
poses. Taxes are no higher on fine than poor stock. The lands of this valley have all been taken, but
choice place can he bought at from 815 to !)0 per acre, wheh is comparatively cheap. Many large
bodies of land owned by single individuals and of the best quality cai be had at very reasonable rates,
which could be divided into several cood 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 laud has been entered or taken up.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
Tho O. R. & N. R. R. 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 miles.
The Hunt Railroad system will be extended during the next year from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through
the Blue Mountans to Summerville, in the northern portion of tho valley and will then traverse the en
tire length of the valley through its center to Union. Upon the building of this road tho 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' iid in competition for the trade of tho Valley, the importance of which is evidenced bv the building
of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde Vlley. it can bo said with
out fear of contradiction, that no better opportunity is offered anywncre in the Northwest for the home
seeker or capitalists than in Grande Ronde Valley and its vicinity. The resources of the valley and its
tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indust'ies of nearly every kind, of which we now have
but very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now lias in the farming and dairying t usiness.
ottering in this line advantages not to be found but in very few places. The raising of thorough bred
stock is a profitable business aud there is hardly an individual here solely in that business at present.
To visit Grande Ronde Valiey and 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 thau the bestof reputation in regard to
climate, soil and everything that goes to constitute a gDod country.
Tlie 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 the
valley.
UNION,
Tlio County Seat of Union County, is situated in the southern portion of the Fertile Grande Hondo Valley, and has
tho best Natural Location for a City of any town In Eastern Oregon. Situated, just ut tho base of rolling hills ou both
shies of Catherine Creek, a beautiful, sparkling stream, whoso waters are pure as nature ever distilled aud held
suspended in her mountain reservoirs, furnishing Immense waterpower Just waltiug to bo utilized by tho hand of
man for all kinds of manufacturing industries. Iu fact the water power Is amply sulllcient to make Union tho Lowell
of Oregon if the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned iu that direction, which will be the case when new
blood and Eastern capitalists come iu. This is one of the best places in oregou for the erection of maunfneturles.
A woolen mill Is greatly needed now, aud some energetic capitalist who is engaged 1h such business would find
here the chosen spot for such uu enterprise, right iu the heart of a great wool-growing section of the country. No
high freights to pay, water-power iu abundance, and iu fact everything that such a busiuess would consume is pio
dnced hero iu the valley.
Tho preseut population of Union is about 1,'JOO, but when the O. A V. T. railroad reaches here she will double her
population inside of six mouths. Eager eyes are watching to take advantage of the preseut low prices In property and
procure for themselves a home where they may live iu peace and plenty. Water works can be put in at very little ex
pense by miming apart of Catherine creek iuto a largo reservoir on the hill back of town. This will give all tho fall
wo want from 150 feet up; no expense of keeping a steam pump and tho necessary repairs. This mountain stream
can be; made to run directly into the reservoir aud all the waste can be utilized In furnishing power for machinery
When once water works are completed there will be no need for wells, sp'rlugs, etc., for no purer drinking water can be"
Our school facilities are uusurpassed. We have iu our public school, a High School Grade. The school is simnlled
with every possible convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal bunded citizens, wrio believe iu giviuir their
children a first-class education aud that they can bo educated In no better way than by having a No. 1 School n hnma
Tl,.. .!.! to ,ll,.l,l,l I,, n r... ..nn.no......t. ..II .1... ....... 1.1.. i..i lj... .1 ....... . . ... IV UUlIlBi
The school at preseut is divided iuto four compartments, all thoroughly ended. Students ou comiilpthur th m-Ivl
scribed course of study receive a certificate to that effect. An addition to the preseut school building is In coutempla-
nun, tuflu auvi-rcu iiiuiuit;u uiiimra nuriu ui tijitij uui-iiia id buijii iu uv uuuuij.
try
mau
tnrai district ami ine numerous minim; ramus iu me near vieinitv. w nin ainn nimttiiixi u-iti, i . cr:
bershops, blacksmlthshops, etc., one principal hotel aud several restaurants, so that the most fastidious tastes of the
cpicuriau cn bo fully satisfied. We are also supplied with, two first-class livery and feed stables so that straueers
jiorauy aim socially, union is uuexceneo auu uer uospiiaiuy is wmeiy Known tnrouguout the surroundlue coun.
We have four churches, all In a nourishing condition. There are six secret societies, doing much uood tn hit.
It v. We have a number ol stores of dltlereut kinds, all doing a profitable busiuess. as thnv aimniv . r.,ut .i.
coining to this town will have uo trouble in procuring a first-class team aud taking a drive out into the exhilleratln
atmosphere and feasting his eyes upon tho graudeur of our mountain scenery, and breathing in the life-giviair exvnn
that can be found nowhere so pure as iu Union County. To the EasteuV; who is uot used to mountain scenery when
ursi ueuoiuiuKour ueauuiiti looxiiuu, ins nrsi auu invoiuuiary oxciamauou is, "raraaiso round at Last
Our county Court House is well finished In every particular, having a large and commodious ball, a
iu nil uillllluuaii; an; aim nit Id
lmproveed cells, thus making
scenery, when
to accommodate any and all audiences. It also has iu connection a Jail built by the Pauley Bros., with ill their larpt
tmugs secure againtrino escape ni any prisoners that may be confined thorelu oiTr
est this side of Portland, with handsomely decorated curtains mul i.. ",r
ommodlous Flouring Mill, full roller nroccss. with all modern imnrnrnmn i. .i...
ing the town. Also several saw mills in the uear vicinity, tho lumbering interest is bound to become onliPfc.
Opera House ts ono of the largest
siyie. une large auu commou;
ing tne town, aiso se
tore in our Industries.
Taken all la all. Union Is one ot the best towns In Eastern Oregon. Heretofore she has beeu kept back ou pmnni
of poor railroad facilities, but when tho Hunt System of Katlroad is completed iuto Union, Its lateut resources will U
developed aud tt will take Its place among tho thriving cities of our laud. We have one of the loveliest tnm lY?
Oregon, ami a great deal of wealth is hero already. All that Is now ueeded isforpeoplo to come aud take advnntaio
" . . r - ..-"-.'. ....... .w . - . . . . . . .. . . j ..... - p.-.... . . . .. .. iiv.si oaiui, ii 1 1 1 1 1 u.u ins or miiseic
Tho jileasuro-seeker or tho Invalid can llud uo better place to while away the summer mouths. Only thri'n'miin.
sway can bo found Hot Snrlugs ami Lakes reveling iu medical virtues and curative imivm tin. imn,,.V-" :..r
Springs," ltheumatlsm and such complaints disappearing as if by the hand of some magician. Lovers of tho nlpa7nVii
art will find tho beaualful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain aud brook trout In tlfn
swan aud ducks iu abuudauce. Iu the the grain field prairie chickens aro quite plentiful. Taklug all theso rf.f
mlvitlttiiirpR fur iiIphkmi-i mill tilldltPHN. wn think npntiln Innl-hip fnr r limni pun Sml nn il.n i?i .. . Ua
better than tho beautiful city of Uuioi. ' ' ou,,,", u me,r
tural
ants
Since the much talked of Hunt Katlroad Is au assured fact, property is beginning to advauco in nrlpp ),r.i .
the present time city lots aud blocks may bo had at very reasonable rates. uuio iu prices, though 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, Ice, 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,
TJIVIOTV, OEEGOW,
Who will cheerfully furnish them with all tho information desired.