The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-05-04
Sierra County.

central New Mexico, being bounded Jn
the north and a by Socorro county
out OF which it WAS mainly taken);
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 for
% miles. The summit of the Black
hange is the western limit. II not
very large in extent, averaging fifty
Tour miles from north TO south. and
AID aEout the same from east to west,
2376square miles, the county has a di-
versihed 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
Caball0) and at their western base that
river, leaving about one-third of the
area of the county on the eastern
bank. On the west side plains, inter
rapted 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-
tepticn of a few creeks, in the utter
most north west corner, which How
westward into the Rio Gi!a, all streams
flow southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep into
the plains.
Elevations ,iin the northern part of the
county, vary from s.1,4S4 (Fest's Ferry
to SLIT rAlamosal, 6,54O canada Ala
mosal, to S,045 [Nelrs Passl, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary,
IN the northern part from 1000 lkio
Grande. above Rinconl to4,6S0 [above
Mutt station, 1924 [Hillsboroughl l.
s94 [B~errenda springl, to 1874 ltien-
bricks Peakl. On the east side OF The
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [bel0w Lava station ],
to 4,342 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-elght miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part OF the
conntry. and that water can be obtain
cd 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 AtchisoD, Topeka Santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, sklrtlng IL
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northerly
branch of Is miles.
Stage lines. connect the country across
the Rio Grande, starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
Fairview and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hillsborougb
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa
which latter, also, can be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part, of the, county Is
we'll 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 B!acK
Range, Alamosa creek, having a south
easterly course, with Alamosa MONT
cellol the principal town.
r Rio CuchiIlo Negro; its upper course
is 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 @er valley.
h Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Ami
mas creeks are,of the same origin anC
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with severa
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hlll
Borough.
1.-THE county is we'll divided into th'
valley, mesa and mountain land EN-
bracing a considerable section of tn
Rio Grande valley, where agricultur
is followed; wherever openings in th
valleys of the different afi uents affor'
room enough TODD so, agricultural pul
QUITS are followed.
Being we'll watered, the pasturag
lands are fully available. and the stoc
interests are in good condition.
1.-THE main interests of Sierra count
are conferred in the mines.
The principal mining districts are
Apache, Black Range, Cuchillo Negr'
Kingston, Hermosa. Animas, Hill
.ooob Darnha and Lake Valley.