The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-04-20
Sierra County,

Sierra county is situated in south
central New Mexico, being bounded On
the north aud east BY Socorro county
out OF which it was maialy taken);
on the south by Dena Ana county ana
IN tie vest by Grant aud Soeorro coun
lies. The principal meridian of New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary Tor
a. miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. If not
very large in extent, averaging htty-
four miles from north TO south, ana
and about the same from east 10 west,
9.376 square miles, the county has a di-
yersifed 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 Fa Cristobal ana
t,aballo) and at their western base thai
river, leaving about oRe-third OF the
area of the county on the eastern
hank. On the west side plains. inter
ruoted here and there by promlnenees
extend TO the foot hills of the Black
range for from twenty 70 thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloprng. not
onlv from north to south, but also
from the northeast TO southwest Tue
drainage is well defined. MN eA-
ception of a few creeks, in the uetei-
,nost northwest corner, which no"
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
Aow southeast, into the Rio Grahae'
rhe beds of these streams, approach
inc their mouths, are worn deep INTO
the plains.
Eleyations,in the northern part OF the
county, vary from ss1,4S4 (Fests Ferry
10 5,i71 GAlamosal, 6,54o canada Ala
mosal, TO S,O45 [Nelrs Pdssl, from ti'e
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1000 lhlo
Erande, above Rinconl, to 4,6o9 labove
Mutt station, 1924 [Hillsooroughb =
1o4 TBerrenda springl, to 1874 tileh-
bricks Peakl. On the east side OIL the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually oes'
cend from APO [below Lava stationh
TO 4,342 feet above Grama. in a distance
of forty-elght miles. There are springs
scattered oyer this eastern part OF the
oonntrv and that water can be obtain
ed by sinking tubular wells, there IS NJ
doubt. AS IA proof that water exists
the railroad well, at Upham station
formerly Martins we'll may be men
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka " Santa
Fe road runs through the entire lengtN
of this part of the country, sKirtlhg II
also around its southern limits, anC
making connection, at Mutt station
Ntith Lake Valley, by q n%ortheriN
branch of 10 miles.
Stage lines. connectthe country across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engl'
station. to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
Fairview and Grafton, or IN the sout'
from Lake Valley to Hillsborougu
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa
which latter, also, can be reached iron
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part. of the county
we'll watered by creeks and streams
IN the northwest corner, eight or MIN
creeks empty into the ella, on III
vest side of the Black Range. on III
east side are, heading in the Blac
Range. Alamosa creek, having a sout
6asterly course, with Alamosa Mont
cellol the principal town,
Rio CuchiIlo Negro; its upper cours
is formed by Poverty. Pine, Bear, Mine
II. Drv and Chloride creeks and Sout
Fork. There are, in the Range, I'll
following towns: Grafton, FalrvleV
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchlllo M
gro is in the 10 Ser 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 Hi
borough. !.
The county is we'll divided into I'll
valley, mesa and mountain land Gu
bracing a considerable section OF u
Rio Grande. valley. where agricultul
Is followed; wherever openings in tt
valleys of the different a%fluents affol
room enough to do so, agricultural pu
quits are followed.
Being well watered. the pasturaI
lands are fully available, and the sto'
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra coun
are centered in the mines.
srba princinaI mining districts ar