The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-04-27
sierra County.
Taken from Statistics Furnished by
Bureau OF Immigration).

Sierra county Is situate IN Soubh
central New Mexico, being bounded ON
the north aud east by SOcorro county
out OF which it WAS mainly takenl;
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
As 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, n
and about the same from east TO west,
2.37e square miles, the county has a oil
<yersided topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asyetem OF
mountain ranges, running from horth
90 south. along the east bank OF the
Rio G rande Sierra Fla Cristobal 7
Caballo) and at their western base that
river, leaving about one-third Oh the
,sraa of the county on the eastern
hank. On the west side plains. inter
rupted here and there by p~roulnehces
extend to the foot hills of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloplng' not
onIy from north TO south, but also
from the northeast to southwest the
drainage IS well defined. With the eX-
.ception of a few creeks, in the utter
most north west corner, which now
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
flow southeast, into the Bio Grande'
The beds of these streams, approach
inc their mouths, are worn deep INFO
the plains.
Eleyations,'i in the northern part OF III
county, vary from 1884 lFests ferly)
10 5,l77 [Alamosal, e,54O canada Ala
fmosal, to S,o45 [Nelrs Passl. from tue
Rio Grande, to the western bouhdaf!'
in the northern part from 1000 lhio
t,rande. above Rincon], to 4.6S9 LabOVe
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsboroughb y
494J Berrenda spring., to 1874 lliei'
tricks Peakl. On the east side OF The
Rio Grande, the plains gradually deS-
cend IRON 4,T2O [below Lava statlonJ'
to 4.342 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty.elght miles. Thele are springs
scattered over this eastern part OF the
country, and that water can be onta'i-
ed b slnking tubular wells, there is ho
doubt. AS a proof that water eX'sVS'
the railroad well, at Upham statIoh'
formerly Martins we'll may he nell
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka u Santa
Fe road runs through the entire lengt"
of this part of the country, skIrIias /.
also around its southern limits, aId
making connection, at Mutt statl'h'
with Lake Valley, by a n%ortherIJ
branch of ID miles.
Stage lines connect e.country across
the Rio Grande. starting from EngIe
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
Fairview and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough,
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa'
which latter, also. can be reached lrom
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 Black
Range, Alamosa creek, having a south
easterly course, with Alamosa Month
cellol the principal town.
( Rio Cuchillo 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 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 the
valleys of the different afiuents afford
room enough to do SO, agricultural pur-
suits are followed.
Being well watered. the pasturage
lands are fully available, and the stock
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra county
are conferred in the mines.
: The principal mining districts are:
Apache. Black Range, Cuchlllo Negro,