The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-10
Sierra County.
tTaksr ssm Statistics Compiled BY the
yGisAs Immigration.

~
sierra county is s,ta8ced lin south
eltral Never ce. teirs bounded on
the uorsa aud east by S,corro county
pat OF which it WIS mainly taken)
ou the south by Dcna Ana county and
on the westby rant aud Socorro coun.
sies. The principal meridian of New
Mexico forms It's ejslere boundary for
IS 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. and
aud about tile same from east 10 west,
2.S76 square miles, the county has a di-
versiied topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem of
mountaiH ranges. running from north
20 south, along the east bank OF the
Rio Cyaude Sierra Fa Cristobal and
Gahallo) 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 there by pr0minences
extend to the foot bills CT the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally chat range occupies the
yyesternmost portion. Slipping. not
only from north TO south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, the
drainage is well defined. With the ex-
~ceptiou of 4 few creeks, in the utter
most north west corner, which How
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 into
the plains.
Elevations, in the northern part OF the
county, vary from 1884 (Fests Ferry
10 5,l77 Alamosal, $50 canada Ala
mosAl, - S,l4i Nell's Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
IN the northern part from 1000 Trio
Grande, above Rinconl, to 1850 Iabove
Mutt stationl. 1924 [Hillsboroughl, 4
404 [Berrenda spring., to 1874 LHen-
drick's peakl: On the east side Of the
RIO Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [below Lava stationl,
10 4.342 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 be obtain
ed by sinking tubular wells. there Is no
doubt. AS a proof that water exists,
Che railroad well, at Upham station,
formerly Martins WE'LL may be men
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka Il Santa
Fe road uni through the entire length
Of this part of the country, sklrtlng IL
also around its southern limits, and
making connection. at Mutt station,
a.th Lake Valley, by a northerly
Branch of 10 miles.
Stage lines connect the country across
tne Rio Grande, starting from .Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride,
Falrview and Grafton, or in the south
rom Lake Valley to Hillsborough,
Kingston, Pearch& City and hermosa
#hich latter, also, can be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part. of the county is
well 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
aasterly course, with Alamosa tMonti-
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 Eer 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 rande valley, where agriculture
is followed; wherever openings in the
valleys of the different afluents afford
room enough to do so, agricultural pur-
suits are followed.
Being well watered, the p~asturage
.ands are fully available. and the stock
interests are in good condition.
The main Interests Of Sierra county
are centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts are:
Black Range, Cuchlllo Negro,
Kingston, Hermosa, Animas, Hills
borough, Percha and Lake Valley.