Union, Oregon.—Union is the judicial seat of one of the richest counties in mineral and agricultural resources in Eastern Oregon. It is situated near the center of Union county, at the southern extremity of the rich Grand Ronde valley, and on Catharine creek, which furnishes at this point valuable water power for manufacturing purposes. Union is on the line of the Union Pacific railroad, 318 miles east of Portland. The town has a population of about 800 and is a prosperous business community. Prominent among the notable buildings of Union are the court house, city hall, and public school. All of these are fine brick structures. The public school building was erected at a cost of $20,000 and it is one of the best arranged buildings for school work in the state. The schools here are graded from the primary to the high school course, and they are taught by five teachers. The city has a fine gravity system of water works, recently completed at a cost of $20,000. The water for city use is taken from a point on Catherine creek, a pure mountain stream, two miles from the city, and from this point it is conducted through a 10-inch main under a vertical pressure of 110 feet to the city. The city thus avoids all expense for pumping. The city has its own water for municipal purposes furnished free and it derives a good rental for the use of private pipe lines. Union has expended $2,000 in the purchase of fire apparatus, and a well drilled and equipped volunteer fire department is maintained here. The place also enjoys all the benefits of an efficient electric light plant, the system covering both the streets, the private residences and the stores. All business in Union is in a prosperous condition. In addition to several large general merchandise stores, the town supports one strong national bank and a number of manufacturing enterprises, including a roller-process flouring mill, a planing mill and a sawmill. The Union Republican, a representative journal, and The Oregon Scout, two well edited weekly newspapers, arc published here. Handsome church edifices are owned at Union by the Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians. The Baptists also have an organization at this point, but they have no church building of their own. The traveling public is cared for by one good hotel and two livery stables. Union is the center of a considerable trade. Daily stages connect this point with Medical Springs, Sanger and Cornucopia. The Union Railway Company's motor line connects the town with the main line of the Union Pacific, whose depot is two miles distant. Negotiations are now pending which have in view the extension of this short line of road to the heavy timber belt a few miles east of Union. The principal shipments from Union are live stock, wool, hay, grain and lumber. In another article on the mineral productions and agricultural resources of Union county, will be found valuable information on the wealth of this part of the state, which is the mainstay of Union's prosperity and which insures this point the prosperity which it has always enjoyed. The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest Edward Gardner Jones, Editor 1894, The Oregonian Publishing Co. Contributed by S. Williams

 

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