The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-17
Sierra County.

~ VS.
Bureau Of Immigration).
Sierra county is situated in soutl
central New Mexico, being bounded o.
the north and east by S1corro count,
out OF which it was mainly taken)
on the south by Dcna Ana county ane
on the west by Grant aud SOcorrO coun
ties. The principal meridian of New
Mexico forms It's eastern boundary fol
1S miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. If not
very large in extent, averaging fifty
four miles from north TO south. and
and about the same from east TO west,
1876 square miles, the county has a di-
yersihed topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem of
mountain ranges, running from north
to south, along the east bank of the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa CristObal and
Caballo) and at their western base that
river, leaving about one-third of the
area of the county on tue eastern
bank. On the west side plains, inter
rupted here and there by prominences
extend to the foot hills of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloping, not
only from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, the
drainage is well defined. With the eX-
ceptiou of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, which flow
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
dow southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep into
the plains.
Elevations, i'm the northern part of the
county, vary from 1854 (FesL's Ferry
to 5,l7T Alamosal, 6,54O canada Ala
mosal, to s,O45 Nells Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
In the northern part from 1000 [Rio
Grande, above Rinconl, to 1859 [abOve
Mutt s%tation 1924 [Hillsboroughl, L
494 [Berrenda spring., TO 1874 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side Of the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from 4,72O [below Lava stationb
to 1912 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-elght miles. There are springs
Scattered over this eastern part OF the
country, and that water can be obtain
ed by sinking tubular wells, there is no
doubt. AS a proof that water exists,
the railroad well, at Upham station,
formerly Martins WE'LL may be men
toned. The Atchison, Topeka Il Santa
Fe road rum through the entire length
of this part of the country, skirting it
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station,
with Lake Valley, by a northerly
branch of IS miles.
Stage lines %connectthe country across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride,
Fairview and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Ilillsborough,
Kingston, Pearcha City and iiermosa
which latter, also, can be reached from
via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part of the county is
we'll watered by creeks and streams.
IN the northwest corner, eight or nine
empty into the ella, on the
west side Of the Black Range. On the
east side are, heading in the Black
Alamosa creek. having a south
aasterly course, with Alamosa [Monti-
cellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
IS formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Miner
ii, Dry and Chloride creeks and South
Fork. There are, in the Range, the
following towns: Grafton, Fairview,
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
,ro is in the lover valley.
Rio PalOmas, Rio SecO and Rio Ami
mas creeks are.of the same origin and
he same general course. (
Rio Percha waters, with several
Ieads, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
'orough.
The county is we'll divided into the
alley, mesa and mountain land en-
a considerable section of the
Ito Grande valley, where agriculture
followed; wherever openings in the
alleys of the different affiuents afford
Dom enough TODD so, agricultural pur-
are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturage
Inds are fully available, and the stock
l~terests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra county