The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1895-11-08
Sierra County.

Taken From tars1es Oomphen ~ AN
bureau u IumigrGtionl.
Sierra county is situated In south
centrl New Mexico, being bounded 0n
the north aud east by SOcorro county
out OF which il was mainly ~taken);
on the south by Dcna Ana county ana
on the westb By rant and SOcorro eoun'
ties. The principal meridian oil New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary ioI
As miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. III not
very large in extent, averaging nity-
four miles from north 10 south,
and about the same from east to west
2,S76 square miles, the county has a Ill
yersi6ed topography. In the extreme
east are large plans; then asystem Oh
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south. along the east bank OF the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristo0al ana
Cahallol and at their western base that
river. fsavlng about one-third OF the
area of the county on the eastern
bank. On the west side plains, inter
rupted here and there by ~promlnences
extend To the foot hills of the BLACK
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost 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 northwest corner, which HOW
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
aov southeast. into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep mo
the plains.
Elevations,Hn the northern part OF the
county, vary from l,4S4 (FestS Ferry
70 5.177 Alamosal. 6,540 canada Ala
mosal, to S,O45 Nelrs Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1000 lhlo
Grande, aboye Rinconl, to 4,GS9 laooVe
Mutt stationL, 1924 [Hillsboroughh i
4o4 TBerrenda spring., to 1874 Hen
bricks Peakl. On the east side OF the
BIO Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO below Lava stauonh
to A.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 b ysinking 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 " santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
Of this part of the country, skirtlng IL
also around its southern limits, anu
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a n~ortheriy
branch of IS miles.
Stage lines c%onnectthe country across
the Rio Grande, starting from Engie
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride
Fairyiew and Grafton, or In the south
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough,
kingston, Pearcha City and hermosa
which latter, also, can be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part of the county If
well vatered by creeks and streams
In The northwest corner, eight or nint
creeks empty into the ella, on The
west side of the Black Range. On th'
east side are, heading in the BlacR
Range, Alamosa creek, having a out
easterly course, with Alamosa lMontl
cellol the principal. town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper COURSE
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Minel
al. Dry and Chloride creeks and South
Fork. There are, in the Range, tht
following towns: Grafton, Fairview
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the 10 yer valley.
Rio PalOmas, Rio SecO and Rio AM
mas creeks are of the same origin ano
the same general course.
Bio Percha waters, with severa
heads. Percha City, Kingston and Hill!
borough.
The county, we'll divided into thu
valley, mesa and mountain land em
bracing a considerable section OF thu
Rio rande valley, where a~gricultur'
is followed; wherever openings in tn
valleys of the different atiueDts atfor'
room enough TODD so, agricultural pur
quits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturag
lands are fully available, and the stocI
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra count
are centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts are