The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-06-22
Sierra County.

Sierra county y situated In south
central New Mexico. being bounded On
the north and east by Socorro county
ant of which it was mainly taken)i
on tie south by Dcna Ana county ana
ON the west by Grant and Socorro coun
ties. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary for
IS miles. The summit of the Black
Range is tbs western limit, Ii not
very large in extent, averaging nifty
four miles from north TO south, ana
and about the same from east TO west
2.s76 square miles. the county a a d.
yersi6ed topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem OF
mountain ranges, running from north
tn south. along the east bank OF the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobai and
Caballo) and at their western base That
river, leaving about one-thlrd oil the
area of the county on the eastern
hank. On the west side plains. inter-
rupted here and there by ~prominences
extend to the foot hills OF the Black
range for from twenty to thirty m.ies
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloplng' not
onlv from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, the
drainage is well defined. Win the eX-
~ceution Of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, when ho"
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
aoy southeast, iuto the BIO 0rahoe'
The beds of these streams approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep lh'o
the plains. % tho
Elevations!fn the northern partot Vhe
county, vary from 1,4S4 (FeSts Ferry
to6177 IAlamosal, $50 canada Ala
mosal, to s,o45JNelrs Passl, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
- the northern part from 1000 tklo
nrande. above Rinconl, to 4,6S9 laboVe
Mutt station, SPA IHillsboroughh l.
494 GBerrenda spring., to 1914 lhen-
bricks Peak. On the east side OF the
R,oGrande. the plains gradually des-
cend from 4.72O [below Lava statlohh
to 4.342 feet above Grama' IN a distance
of forty.eight miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern parI .. Ino
country, and that water can oe OBTAIN,
ed nv sinking tubular wells, there Is ho
doubt. AS a proof that water exlStS'
the railroad we'll, at Upham station.
formerly Martins we'll may be men
stoned. The Atchiscn, Topeka Y Santa
Fe road runs through the entire lengtn
Of this part of the country, sklrtlhg II
also around its southern limits ahC
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northefiS
branch of 10 miles.
Stage lines connect thecountry across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engi'
atation. to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
Fairyiew and Grafton, or in the Sout'
srom Lake Valley to Hillsborough
kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa
which latter. also. can be reached / o
EnQl6, Via CuCulllo NO6A" =,
The western part, of the county i
we'll watered by creeks n streams
In the northwest corner, eight or MN
creeks empty into the Glla' on III
west side of the Black Range. On IN
EAST side are, heading in the Blaci
Range. Alamosa creek, having a soutl
easterly course, with Alamosa lMohU
cellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; it's upper cours
is formed by Poverty, Pine Bear Mine
al. Dry and Chloride creeks n souIl
Fork. There are, in the Range, tn
following towns: Grafton, FalrVlew
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
vro is in the 10 yer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Ami
mas creeks are,of the same origin ant
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with seVera
heads. Percha City, Kingston and Hill
borough.
I" The county is we'll divided into tn
valley. mesa and mountain land em
bracing a considerable section of tn
Rio Grande valley, where agricultur'
is followed; wherever openings in tn
valleys of the different afiuents affor'
room enough to do so, agricultural pur
suits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturag
lands are fully available, and the stoc
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra count
are centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts are
Apache. Black Range, Cuchlllo Negr'
Kingston. Hermosa. Animas, Hill