The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-03-23
Sierra County,
Qsksp from Statistics Furnished by
bureau of Immigrationl.

BUREAU VI AmuABInAohls
Sierra county is situated in south
central New Mexico, being bounded On
the north and east by SOcorrO county
out OF which it was mainly t@ken);
on the south by Dona Ana county and
on the west by Grant and Socorro coun'
ties. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary Tor
IS miles. The summit OF the Black
Range is the western limit. IL not
very large in extent, averaging nfty-
four miles from north to south, anu
and about the same from east 10 west'
2,S76 square miles, the county has a d.
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-thlrd OF the
area of the county on the eastern
bank, On the west side plains. Inter
rupted here and there by promlnences
extend to the foot hills of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
yesternmost portion. Sloping' not
only from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, The
drainage is we'll defined. win the eX-
ception of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, which now
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
flow southeast, into the Rio Grahde.
The beds of these streams, approach
jng their mouths, are worn deep into
the plains.
Eleyations,in the northern part OF the
county, vary from ss1,4S4 (Fests Ferry
to SAT- [Alamosal. 6,54G canada Ala
mosal, to s,O45 Nells Passl, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary,
IN the northern part from 1000 lRlo
Grande, above Rinconl, to 4,6S9 LaboVe
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsboroughb Il
4e4 IBerrenda spring., TO 1874 lHen-
bricks Peak. On the east side OF Ihe
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [below Lava statlonI,
TO 4.S42 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-elght miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part oil the
country, and that water can be OBTAIN
ed by sinking tubular wells, there is no
doubt. AS "a proof that water exlSIS'
the railroad well, at Upham station
formerly Martins we'll may be men
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka u Santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, sklrtlhg IL
also around its southern limits, ana
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northerly
branch of 10 miles.
Stage lines connectthe country across
the Rio Grande, starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride,
Fairyiew and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hlllsborough'
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa.
which latter, also, can be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part. of the, county is
well watered by creeks and streams
In the northwest corner, eight or nine
creeks empty into the ella, on the
west side of the Black Range. On The
east side are, heading in the BACK
Range, Alamosa creek, having a south
sasterly course, with Alamosa lMontl-
cellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
Ia formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Miner
al. Dry and Chloride creeks and South
Fork. There are, in the Range, the
following towns: Grafton, Fairview,
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the 10 yer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio AMI
mas creeks are.of the same origin and
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with several
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
borough.
The county is well divided into the
valley, mesa and mountain land EN-
bracing a considerable section of the
Rio Grande valley, where agriculture
is followed; wherever openings in thu
valleys of the different aft uents AFFORD
room enough to do so, agricultural pur
cults are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturag'
lands are fully available, and the stool
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra count.
are centered in the mines,
The principal mining districts are
Anache. BLACK Range. CuchlllO Negro