The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-29
THE BLACK RANGE
And its Mining Camps. An Un-
prejudiced Observation.


ir4It-
The Black range, situated in south
western New Mexico extends in north
erly and southerly direction for about
one hundred miles. Being the greatest
range of mountains in this part Of New
Mexico. it is considered the main range
of the Rocky mountains and the conti-
mental divide. 1t is found on most of
the maps of this country as the MINI
bres mountains, Usually when we
speak of the Black range we refer to
thai. portion situated west of and trib-
utary to Engle, and included IN the
Apache, Black Range, Cuchillo Negro
and Limestone districts, and, surround
ing the camps of Fairview, Chloride,
Robinson, Grafton and st. Charles.
While the Bla range contains many
other rich districts, they are designated
by other names, as Lake Valley, Kings
ton, Perchas, Palomas, etc. The first
discoveries made here were in the year
1878 by an old prospector named Pye,
and his associates, but the Indians were
so bad at this time that the parties were
compelled to leave the range. The fol-
lowing year Pye and Mexican return
ed with view of working the pros
poets, but they were massacred. The
real location of this section was in the
fall of 1880, when a band of determined
prospect0rs came here to stay. Since
this time there has been but one raid
intothe range by hostile Indians, which
was in January 1881. But the rumors
from time to time that the Apaches are
on the war-path has retarded the growth
and Development OF this region by
keeping much capital from these dis
trictS that would otherwise have been
invested here. The Indian question
having been settled for year past, the
district has been rapidly and steadily
improving until at tue present time it
shows large number of fine prospect S
and few mines many of which carry
not only large bodies of Gre, but of a
high grade. The famous Ivanhoe mine
has done more to advertise and benefit
this section than any one property and
paradoXical as it may seem. more to in
jure and retard its growth than any one
thing except the hostile Indians. AT
the present time it's reported on reIia-
BILE authority that the mine was show
ing as well as ever when work was dis
continued. Notwithstanding this it is
generally understood that an effort Is
being made to bear the stock and it is
given out to the world at large that
the mine is failure.
The Black range is remarkable for
the amount of timber, fuel and water
which 1t contains, there being pine, ju-
niper, spruce, live oak and cedar, while
streams rising near the summit of the
range and flowing eastward across the
mineral belt are found every two OF
three miles. The mineral district Oh
belt of this region, extends north and
south for a distance of about thirty
miles and is from three to fifteen miles
in width. The leading feature of this
belt is that it does not contain innum
cradle small veins extending in all di
rections, but has large and well-dehned
VEINS which can be easily traced fol
miles, and with the same general course
or direction. The growth and develop
ment of this district is steady and per
manent, being IN the main for legit
mate mining purposes, and as the prop
critics are developed they show sufficient
improvement to warrant continuous
work. Several of them are being work
ed and the ore left on the dump at the
mine, while others are shipping theil
ores. Machinery is being placed on the
Alaska and it is being thoroughly and
~ vigorously worked. A stamp mill i;
t being erected at tie Occidental and ;
large amount of ore is beng mined
the Apache is being thoroughly devel
oped and we might mention .severa
other prominent properties which 'art
being worked, if space would permit
FAIRvIEw
IS the first camp we reach upon enter
ing the range. 1t is situated in broaC
and fertile valley, and is the suppl,
camp for the miners in the CuchilC
Negro mountains, and the place from
whence the roads branch going to Chic
ride, Robinson. Grafton and st. Charles
There is a water jacket smelter here
They have IA postoffice, comfortabl,
, hotel, kept by Mr.. j. w. sansom, an(
three stores. Messrs. Blum & Bro. carry
full line of general merchandise anC
I. miners supplies, and the same may b
said of Mr.. M. G. Levy and j. w. San
som. Passing over the foot hills abou
Z two miles we are at the prosperou
camp of
CHLORIDE,
beautifully situated upon a stream o
fclear, pure water, which is made to d
wide and flow down both sides OF tn
9nain street and water two rows 0