The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-11-30
Sierra County,

slerra,county is situated in south +,
central New Mexico. being bounded On
the north and east by Socorro county
put OF which it was mainly %taken);
ON the south by Dona Ana county and
on the west by Grant aud Socorro eoun-
ties. The principal meridian of New
Mexico forms It's eastern boundary for
IS miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. Ii not
very large in extent, averaging hfty-
four miles from north TO south. ana
and about the same from east TO west
2 $40 square miles, the county has a d.
gersifed topography. In the extreme
east are large plans; then asystem Oh
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south, along the east bank OF d
Rio G rande Sierra Fa Cristobal ana
CabalIo) and at their western oaSe that
,,ver leaving aboEs one-third OF the
area of the county GU the EASTERN
honk On the west side plains, inter-
,nnted here and there.b by promlnehces
ayytand tn the foot hills of the black
,.anoe for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Slipping. not
only from north to SOUTH pu. aiSo
from the northeast to southwes'' e"o
drainage is well defined. With the ex-
cention of a few creeks, in the utter
800 north west corner, which now
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
sow southeast. Into the Rio Grahue.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn oeep INV
the plains. oftbe
Ela~vations.in the northern part OF the
county. vary from 1,4s4 (FesVs Feffyl
to SIN Alamosal, 6,54Q Canada ala,
mosai to s.045 Nelr's Pass. from tne
Rio G. a ide, to the western
IN the northern part from 1000 lhio
Grande, above Rinconl, to4,oS9 lapog0
Nutt stationl, 5,224 [Hillsboroughh i
do4 IBerrenda spring., to 7,574 men
bricks Peakl. On the east slae oi '"o
Rio Grande, the plains gradually oes-
cend from 4.72o [below Lava stationl'
toAa42 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty.elght miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part 0. .ne
country, and that water can oe oos", ~
ed nv sinking tubular wells, there Is III
Doubt. AS a proof that water EXISTS
the railroad well, at Upham station
Formerly Martins WE'LL may pc men
tioned. The Atchison, Topeka q oan''
Re road runs through the entire iengtl
Of this part of the country, sklrtihg |
a,so around its southern limits, ant
making connection, at Mutt station
With Lake Valley, by a n%ortheFi.
branch of 10 miles.
stage lines connect the country acEos
Tho Rio Grande, starting from Engl
~atation. to Cuchillo Negro, ohlorlat
Fairview and Grafton, or IN the SouSl
from Lake Valley to H~lllsDorougn
Kingston. Pearcha City and hermos'
WHICH ldkJCls dtoVt
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro
The western part of the county !
we'll watered by creeks and streams
Tn the northwest corner, eight or'nlh
creeks empty into the ella, on ID
west side of the Black Range, On III
east side are, heading in the biac
Range. Alamosa creek, having a sou
easterly course, with Alamosa lMoh'
cellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper our
il formed by Poverty. Pine, Bear, Win
Al. Dry and Chloride creeks and SOU,
Fork. There are, in the Range. u
Following owns: Grafton, FalrVleN
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchiilo N
gro is in the 10 yer valley, =.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and hlo Al
mas creeks are.of the same origin al
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with seVei
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Ill
borough. 80 :
The county is we'll divided into I
valley, mesa and mountain lana {
bracing a considerable section OF
Rio Grande valley, where agricultl
il followed: wherever openings IN
valleys of the different afiuents aifc
room enough TODD so, agricultural p
quits are followed,
Being well watered, the pasture
lands are fully available. and the SIC
interests are in good condition.
yThe main interests of Sierra coul
are conferred in the mines;
The principal mining districts a
Apache. Black Range, Cuchillo Neg
Kingston, Hermosa. Animas, Ill
borough, Percha and Lake Valley.