The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-14
Sierra County,

Taken From STATISTICS OomRhen W snp
Rureau Of Immigrationl.
Sierra county is situated In south
entral New Mexico being bounded On
the north and east by Socorro county
put OF which it was mainly takenli
on the south by Dona Ana county ana
on she vest by rant and Socorro coun'
ties, The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary Tor
as miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit, II not
very large in extent, averaging MY
four miles from north To south, ana
and about the same from east to west,
1916 square miles, the county has a d.
yersided topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem OF
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south, along the east bank OF n
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobal I'M
rahallo) 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
rupted here and thereby promlnences
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
only from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest Tue
drainaoe is well defined. With the ex-
ception of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, which now
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 mo
the plains.
Elevations,f in the northern part OF the
county, vary from 1,4s4 (Fests Ferry
to 5l77 Alamosal, 6.54O canada Ala
mosal, to S,O4 5Nell's Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
IN the northern part from 1000 lklo
Grande, above Rinconl, to 1850 laboVe
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsborough l.
4e4 IBerrenda spring., to 1874 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side OF the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
ccend from APO [below Lava statlonb
to 4342 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 exists,
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, sklrtlng IL
also around its southern limits, ana
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northerly
branch Of 10 milas.
Stage lines connectthe country across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engie
station. to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
Fairyiew andrafton, or in the soutf
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermoss
which latter, also, can be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro, !.
The western part of the county II
we'll watered by creeks and streams
In the northwest corner, eight OF Mint
creeks empty into the ella, on tn
west side of the Black Range. On TIL
east side are, heading in the Blacl
Range, Alamosa creek, having a soutl
easterly course, with Alamosa lMontl
cello] the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper cours
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Mine
al, Dry and Chloride creeks and SoutI
Fork. There are, in the Range, tn
following towns: Grafton, FalrvleV
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchlllo NJ
gro is in the over valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio An
mas creeks are.of the same origin an
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with sewers
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hill
borough. -.
The county is well divided into tt
valley, mesa and mountain land en-
bracing a considerable section of I'll
Rio rande valley, where agricqltu'
ia followed; wherever openings in Il
valleys of the different aftuents affol
room enough do so, agricultural pu
quits are followed.
Being well watered. the pastural
lands are fully available, and the stot
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra coun'
are conferred in the mines.
The principal mining districts ar
Apache, Black Range, Cuchillo NegI