The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-31
Sierra County.

Sierra county is situated In south
central New Mexico. being bounded On
the north aud east by Socorro county
or winch it was mainly taken);
Gu the south by Dona Ana county and
ON the west by Grant and S~ocorro coun-
ties. The principal meridian Of New
Mexico forms It's eastern boundary Tor
as miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. Ii not
very large in extent, averaging NIFTY
four miles from north TO south, n
and about the same from east TO wesl'
2.s7e square miles, the county has a Ill
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 Fla Cristob&l ana
Caballo) and at their western base mat
river. leaving about one-thlrd OF the
area of the county on the eastern
hank. On the west side plains. inter
'rupted here and there by p~romlnehces
axtend to the foot bills of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
vesternmost portion. Sloping' not
only 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 how
westward into the Rio Gi.a, all streams
flow southeast, into the Rio rance
The beds of these streams, approach
ING their mouths, are worn deep INFO
the plains. 80
Fleyations,in the northern part OIL Inc
county, vary from l,4S4 (FesEs Ferry?
to 5.l77 Alamosal, 6.54O canada Ala
mosal, to s,O45 Neil'S Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the wester BOUNDARY
in the northern part from 1000 lhlo
Grande, above RincoDL to 4,6S9 laooVe
Mutt stationl. 5,224 [tIillsoorongnh T.
l94 lBerrenda sprlngl, to 1874 ltien-
bricks Peak. On the east side OF tile
RIO Grande. the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [below Lava statlohl'
IA A feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-elght miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part OF the
country, and that water can I've OBTAIN
"a bysinking tubular wells, there Is II"
doubt. AS a proof that water exists
the railroad well, at Upham station
formerly Martins we'll may be men
TONED. The Atehison, Topeka SANTA
Ne road runs through the entire length
IF this part of the country, sklrtihg II
also around its southern limits, aho
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northerlI
branch Of 10 miles.
Stage lines connectthe country across
tne Bio Grande, starting from Engle
t~atatiop. to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
+Fairview and Grafton, or in the souti
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa
which latter, also, can De reacneu Aiou
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro !.
The western part of the county Il
we'll watered by creeks and streams
In the northwest corner, eight or nln'
creeks empty into the ella, on th'
vest side Of the Black Range. On TIT
east side are, heading in the Blac
Range. Alamosa creek, having a soutl
aasteriy course, with Alamosa lMonll
cellol 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, IN
Following towns: Grafton, Fairvle~
Dhloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the 10 yer valley.
rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio An
mas creeks are.of the same origin an
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with severe
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hill
borough. -.
The county is well divided into tn
valley, mesa and mountain land eu
bracing a considerable section of tn
Rio Grande valley, where agricultur
is followed; wherever openings in til
valleys of the different afi uents affoI
room enough to do so, agricultural pu.
quits are followed.
Being we'll watered, the pastural
lands are fully available, and the stoc
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra count
ere conferred in the mines.
IL mi. -:-o;unl ,~tntnO "Aiutriafo or