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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 1890)
UNION COUNTY, OREGON IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE 9 AND COMPRISES ABOUT NINETY TOWNSHIPS OR ABOUT 2,000,000 ACRES OF LAND. The valleys are of tin average elevation of a1out 2,000 feet alove sea level, the highest mountain peaks being alxnit 0,000 feet and continually covered with snow, which furnishes a water supply for numerous streams the year round. THE CLIMATE moisturo of the soil and mature never remains longer than from Is dry and healthful, there being a sufficient rainfall to preserve the r crops. Snow seldom falls to the depth of one footJn the valleys, and two to tlireo weeks at a tune. The mean temperature for tho winter months is alout 20 degrees above freezing point, and for tho summer months about 70 alwve zero, the heat of tho day being offset by cool nights that ensure refreshing and invigorating sleep and rest for the fatigued The winter seaBon usua ly begitiHalwut the first of December and lasts till tho middle of Foiiruary or first of March, when the husbandman is given an opjortunity to prepare for his springs seeding. From March 1st to July 1st, the monotony of warm and dry wcatlior 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 tho 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. Gonerally enough rain falls in tin 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 tho vigor and enterprise of is citizens will prove. Tho various contagions provalnnt in many localities are almost wholly unknown here, and are usually very mild in their attack w lion thev do nitpear. There has only been one case of Smallpox in Union County slnco its settlement, and chifls and lover aro totally unknown. Wo have no tornadoes or hurricanes to lay wasfo tho country, destroy property and tho 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 tho Cascadu Mountains. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. There is 1,407,500 Acres of Survoved Land in the County; the rest is unsunned, the unsur veyed portion being valuable for Timber, I'asturo and abounding in Mineral Deposits. Tho valleys of tho County are Grande Honde, Indian, North Powder, Big Creek, Eagle, Pino and Starkoy. Tho soil in these valleys is well adapted to tho raising of Wheat, Oats, Uarloy, Rye, 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 Wheal, is from 2o to CO bushels to tho acre, Uarloy from 10 to 70, Oats about the samo as Barley, wit)) exceptions in some localities, when as high as 100 bufehols of oats has been raised to the acre. Tho Mountains are covored with'a Fine Growth of Timber, consisting of Pine, Turn rack, Spruco, otc. The most valuable is tho Pine, which is used in tho lumbering industry, also some of (ho larger species of Tamrac, but this class of timber is used chiefly to furnish wood ties, etc., which is amply sulllcient to supply the surrounding country for ages. The mineral resources of tho County are only partial v developed, but sufficient prospecting and mining has been done 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 f'o wealth of tho County. A more detailed account of tho Mines and Mineral Resources of tho County will bo found further on. stock itvirsnvc. The assessment roll of tho county tor tho year 18S8, hIiows that there were 21.710 head of horses, 28, 21! Head of Cuttle, M.n'iS Head of Sheep, and 5,570 Head of Swine, showing of ltelf that the County Is a great Stock Raising Region. Thousands of head of stock ore yearly shipped, bringing to the owners tho'i'of a neat profit on their Investment. ... ... In fact, the stock business lias been mid still Is tho most paying of any In tho country and It bid fair to continue to ho such for many yours to come. The bunch grass growing upon tho hills and mountains is very nutritious, stock fattening In a very short time, ready for market. Usually stock h-s to In fed ha for from one to two months during the winter, but in manv places horses will winter upon the bunchgrnss and do well. I'lio climate Is such that sto k raised Is of a hardy and healthful charac ter, irlvlngJo work horses a strong constitution and powerful tnusclo. 'Ptui iiilllr linrn attain nurfoctton. Sliei'D are very healthy and produce heavy lleeces. The dairying business In the la't few years has developed Into a largo and profitable one, tho country being specially adapted t the bu-lness by reason of tho milk producing qualities of the grasses and the ex nge, tne large quantity oi nuy mm g am nimn. largo water supply and the quick market of Mutter and on cedent rani: raised per acre, the healthfulness of animals, the l Mil.- f 1 1 1. iiply and tlli'iiuicit markoioi iiuner aim oiioiiho. ino uursry, iiumiinu mm uuruam are rapidly taking tho place of theiommon breed of cattle, and dairymen ure giving considerable attention to the ln etll"g of their cows. ,,.,, . ,, , lt It Is said ntoro prollt can In realized per your from a milk cow In this country than any other in tho United Stales, one Instance being given of a single cow for one year, yielding a net profit to tho owner of $175 bel les tho culf .... .. , . . Two creameries ato in operation at the Cove, In this county, whl h make 12o,C0t) pounds of cheese, worth I I cents per pound, and 75,01 0 kiuuIs butter, worth 25 cents per piund. ' TIiIn year a creamery Is In operation at I.a Grmde, with what success remains to be seen, although no doubt can he entertained but that It will prove to be a profitable concern. ITS MINING RESOURCES. The Mining District" of Uifon County are Cornucopia, Sparta and Sanger. Cornucopia District Is In the K Htern portion of the County, and embraces a section about ten miles i-quaro, within which there are about 000 qurU locations. Tliu formation In granite and slale; the ledge running In a Snutheartorly and Northwesterly direction. The first locations ero made hero In l&St. The quartz contains Cold and Silver, tho gold predominating. Some of tho lode are free milling, hut they gonerally contim base metal hii In consequence wl'l have to ho treated In reduction works. Ansays have been made of ore from tho dllt'erent groups, showing an average yield of from r25 to $1 0 per ton. When tho proper methr ds aro employed to work theo ledgea to the best advantage, Cornucopia will ha considered the Now "Kldorado of tho West. ti Id Tho Or gon Gold Mining Company, of I.ouUvillc, Ky , Is the only company represented lu the dls t. It. Iiiih nnened uiioeveral of tu ledues. which woioobtalned at from &IU.I 00 to S2H.000 each. Tho lied Jacket, bclonirlng to tnu company, is a "roil uotineu ledge, averaging about four feet In thickness and when htruck on the lowest tunnel, was found to be a mans of tho golden metal. This company ban a ID-Stamp Mill running night and day upon tho ore taken from this ledge. Seven thou sand five h iiulred pounds of sulphurets were secured tho first month of this spring's operations, besides Inline uho quantities of free gold caught upon the auia'gam pans. This company's expenses in building, machinery, roads, developments, etc., ha amounted to over PSIOOO 0. They have tho Whitman, which ban a shaft sunk over 1,600 feet and shows better ns tho work progrewsos; tho Alta No. 2, which I developed sufficiently to Indicate a well defined ledge of high grade ore. Tho present superintendent, Professor Smith, Is hluhly pleased with tho prospect for his company and predicts a second Leadvillo of Cornucopia. Many other ledges of tho camp with UK) feet or more of development work aro showing up well, among which are tho Simmons grrup, comprising the Key stone. Choekma'o, Kmplro and Buckeye, all situated on tho Simmons Muuntain and Mild to be the best group of mines lu tho camp, lso tho Blue Bell, Little Casino and Monto Chrl to, situated on thetame mountain anil extensions of tho Slnnnons ledges, showing name grade and character of ore. Tho Way Up northeast of Cornucopia, shows some of the delict ore of any in camp and is no doubt an extension of the Blue Bell and Simmons group, Tho Union, Companion. Last Chan e, Robert Kmmot, Forest (Juocn, Red Boy, May r lower, Cox and Allen, Red tross, fateon groupo, btella, Tiger Boy. Climax and Queen of the West arc all sufficiently developed to show them to bo good ledges and contain paying ore in an at (limiituie-. tiio cornucopia or riuo rccn uisinci is a ricu ono wuu an unlimited amount of ore and only lacks capital tq prove Its wonderful richness. mt It is destined to be one of the richest camp in exlhtence. ..,. ... The Sanger mine aro operated by a San l-ranclsco Company, which began its operations two vears ago, buying tho ledges for $I7,0 0 and now cleaning up on an averauo of $70,OW) per month. Theo mine are on the road between Union and Cornucopia, about H I miles east of Union, having a tri-woekly mall from Union on to Cornucopia, thus being placed lu direct communication with Union, their trail- The' Sparta mines are i0out eight miles southeast of Sanger and have been worked for the past twenty years, still Yielding largo returns. The Simrta mines are mostly placer, but quite a number of ledge have lately been found which, as fur ns dovelopou. Indicate good pa) lug ore. A mill is being built here and good returns are expected from Us work. u N I O N C O U N T Y O R E G O N .A.ODRXCtJILiTtJPeA.L INTERESTS. Now to return to the Agricultural Interests of the County, the Largest, most Fertile and attractive Valley of Union County, Is the Famous Giande Ronde, whose leauty is I ecomlrg known far and wide, surrounded by lofty mountains upon which seems to rest the blue vult above. Wherever the eye gazes it cannot help being enchanted by our beautlf ul ccenery. This valley embraces bOO.Oi 0 acres of as fine Agricultural I .and as can b found on the Pacific Cnst. The Grande Rondo River enters lis boundary on the West and flows Evterly through the center of the va'ley and thence Northerly and out at l b Northern limits; 30x25 miles is its lengtli and bredih and with Catherine Creek, the laigest 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 ft reams afTo'dlng abundance of wat r the eaon round. The soil of thU valley Is principally a black, rich lom with clay subsoil, thero 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, Tlmothv, Alfalfa and-Clo'er Is large, the cereals yielding from 25 to f0 bin hel 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 Ing an'1 export of grain and hay from this valley is large and growing In quantity each year. Besides the producticn of giain and hay for export, a immense quantity of fruits, incliulii g Ap ples, Plums, Prunes, I'ears and smailo fruits, alo gar 'en vegetables nieraifed In great quantitits and marketed in the neighboring sections. Butter and Cheei-e is alho one of our staple products. Stock raising is engaged In largely and profitably; as fine stock may be seen upon the farms of Grande Ronrle Valley as anywhere, stockmen and farmers always securing the bi-st hied 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 1 e bjught at from 815 to 30 per acre, when Is comp&nlitely cheap. Mat y large bodies of land owned by Mingle individuals and of the best quality ca be had at very reasonable rales, which could be divided into several crood farms. TIMBER. The hills and mountains arc covered with timber of the best quality for lumfcering 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 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 jear from Wal'a Walla, W. T., through the Blue Mountans to Summerville, in the northern portion of the valley and will then traven-e 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 the So1 i id in competition f .r the trade of the Valley, the importance of wMch is evidenced by i ho building of this second line of road. In concluding this description of Grande Ronde V Hey. it cm be said with out fear of contradiction, that no better oppo'tun'tv Is ollered any wnere in the Northwest for the home seeker er capitalits than In Grande Ronde Viilley and its vicinity. The resources of t lie valley and its tributary sections will sustain manufacturing indiist' les of nearly eveiy kind, of which we now have hut very few. It will sustain ten times the population it now has in the farm! g and dairying I usiness. ofi'ering in this line advantages not to be found but in very few places. The raising of thorough bred stock is a protltable biiHiness and there is hardly an individual here solely in that business at present. To visit Grande Ronde Valley aud see it and to Investigate its advantages, is to locate "here. In no ( stance have people, who have visited this valley given It other than the bostof reputation iu regard to climate, soil and avervthinc that goes to constitute a giod country. The Grande Ronde Valley has several considerable towns and village: 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, aud Elgin in the extreme northern part of the valley. UNION, The Couuty Seat of L'nlou Comity, Is situated In the southern portlou of the Fertile OrHiule Houde Valley, aud has the best Natural Location for a City of auy town In Eastern Oregou. Situated, Just at the base of rolling hills ou both sides 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 waiting to bo utilized by the baud of mnu for all kinds of manufacturing Industries. In fact the water power Is amply sutllcleut to make Union the bowell of Oregon If the attention of her enterprising citizens were turned iu that direction, which will bo the case when new blood aud Kastern capitalists come iu. This Is oue of the best places lu oregou for the erection of mauiifacturies. A woolen mill Is greatly needed uow, aud soie energetic capitalist who Is engaged iu such business would flud here tho chosen spot for such an enterprise, right In the heart of a great wool-growing seetfou of the country. No high freights to pay, water-power in abuudauce, aud iu fuct everything that such a business would cousume Is pro daced hero In the valley. Tho preseut population of Union is about 1,200, but when the 0. A W. T. railroad reaches hero she will double her population inside of six mouths. Eager eyes aro watching to take advantage of the preseut low prices in property aud procure for themselves a homo where they may live in peace aud plenty. Water works can be put Iu at very little ex pense by running a part of Cathoriuo creek into a large reservoir ou the hill back of town. This will give all the fall we waut from 160 feet up; no expense ol Weeping a stt am pump aud tho necestary repairs. This mountain stream can be, made to run directly Into tho reservoir and all the waste can bo utilized In furnishing power for machinery. When once water works aro completed thero will bo no need for wells, spriuga, etc., for uo purer drinking water cau be found. Our school facilities are unsurpassed. Wo have lu our public school, a High School Grade. The school is supplied with every possible convenience. Everything is furnished by our liberal handed citizens, wtio believe In giving their children a first-class education aud that they cau be educated iu no better way than by having a No. 1 bchool atnome. Tho school at present Is divided Into four compartmeuts, all thoroughly graded, Students ou completing the pre scribed course of btudy receive a certificate to that ellect. Au addition to tho pieseut school butldlug Is Iu contempla tion, also several hundred dollars worth of apartments is soon to be added. Morally and socially, Uulou Is unexcelled aud her hospitality Is widely known throughout tho surrounding coun try. We have four churches, all lu a llourNhfng condition. Thero areMx secret societies, doing much good to hu manity. We have a number of stores of dltVcrcnt kinds, all doing a protltable business, as they supply a great agricul tural district and the numerous mining camps lu tho near vlclulty. We are also supplied with several saloous, bar- uersuops, uiavKsiuiiosiiups, eie,, imu pruti-ipm iiuivi nuu buh-iui ri-aiuuiuuis, o uini me musi iasuuious Tastes OI tno eplcurlttii can be fully satisfied. Wo ure also supplied with two first-class livery aud feed stables so that strangers coming to hub unvu mil nave i atmosphere alio leasiiug ms e that can be found nowhere so 1 A-... ...l.nl,t I .... t.n...tf,.l UIBl UVIIUIU1IIK1.I1I Ln.HllliiUi IUlllllfl, U1D I1IB1 " I, VI u . u, u in. j vavihiiiiiiumi lo, A nmuiSU rUUUU 111 J.HSl. Our county Court House is well finished lu every particular, having a large and commodious hall, amply suRlcient to accommodate auy and all audiences. It also Iras In connection a Jail built by the Pauley llros., with ill their latest Improveed cells, thus making things secure agalnlhe eseapeof auy prisoners that may be confined tliureln. Our Opera House Is ono of the largest this side of 1'urtlaud, with handsomely decorated curtains aud finished lu superb style. One large and commodious Flouring Mill, full roller nroces, with all modem improvements, Is situated adjoin ing tho town. Also several saw mills In the near vicinity. The lumbering interest Is bound to become quite a fea ture lu our Industries. Taken all iu all. Union Is ono of the best towns In Eastern Oregou. Heretofore sho has been kept back ou accouut of poor rallro I facilities, but when tho Hunt System of Hallroad Is completed Into L'nlou, Its latent resources will be developed aud It will take Its place among the thriving cities of our laud. We have one of the loveliest towns lu Oregon, and a great deal of wealth is here already. All that Is now ueeded Is for people to come and take advantage of tho great inducements soon to be thrown at the feet of every energetic mail possessing either brains or muscle. Tho pleasure-seeker or tho luvalid can find no better place to while away the summer mouths. Ouly three miles away can bo found Hot Springs and Lakes reveling lu medical virtues aud curative powers tho famous 'Kansas Hot Springs," ltheumatlsm and such complaints disappearing as if bv tho hand of some magician. Lovers of the piscatorial art will find the bcaiialful sparkling waters of Catherine creek alive with the gamy mountain aud brook trout, lu the edge of the mountains largcrgame may bo found, while out iu the valley along tho Urando Koudo river aro geese, swau and ducks In abundance, lu the tho grain Held prairie chickens aro quite plentiful. Taking all these ufitural advantages fur pleasure and business, wo think people looklug for a home cau find uo place supplying all their wants better than tho beautiful city of Uulou. Since the much talked of Hunt Hullroad Is au assured fact, property is beginning to advauce In prices, though at tho preseut time city lots aud blocks may be had at very reasonable rates. .10 irouuie 111 prueiiniig n uroi-eju.s lenni nun imtiuK auriveout 11110 me exllllleratlug es upou 1110 grauoeur 01 our mountain scenery, ami ureatiilug in tne llfe-glvlug exygen Hire as iu Union Couuty. To the Easteuv. who Is not ssed to mountain Minrv. u'h..n In.. 1,1. u,,.l Invnlnnla... .l.nlutnulin,, 1. III)..,,,!!.., 1.-. i. ...-... " THE UNION REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION No.w 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 propert to a bettor 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, crrvrorv, oREGOiv, Who will cheerfully furnish them with all the Information desired.