The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1895-03-01
Sierra County.

SIERRA county Is Sltudttu ia sYHeh
ensral New Mexico, being bounded Oh
ths north and east By Socorro county
out OF which it was mainly taken);
on the south BY Dena Ana county and
on the west by rant and socorro coun-
sies. The principal meridian Of New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary Tor
IS miles. The summit OF the BACK
Range is the western limit. II not
very large in extent, averaging MY
four miles from north to south, ana
aud about the same from east 10 west,
2,37e square miles, the county has a di-
versifed topography. In the extreme
cast are large plans; then asystem Oh
mountain ranges, running from north
10 south, along the east bank OF the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobal and
Caballo) and at their western base that
liver, 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 p~rominences
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 flow
westward into the Rio Gila,ali streams
lcw southeast, into the Rio Gfande.
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 1,4S4 (Fest's Ferry
to SLIT Alamosal, 6,549 canada Ala
mosal, to s,O45 Nelrs Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
IN the northern. part from 1000 lltlo
Grande, above Rinconl, to 4,6S9 [ab0Ye
Mutt station, 5,224 [Hillsboroughl 4
g94 TBerrenda spring., TO 1914 Lden-
bricks Peak. On the east side OF the
Bio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from 4,720 below Lava statlonl,
to 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 bysinking 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 q Santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, skirting it
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station,
with Lake Valley, By a northerly
branch Of 10 miles.
Stage lines connectthe country across
Gne Rio Grande, starting from Engle
station. to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride,
Fairview and Grafton, or invthe 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 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
easterly course, with Alamosa EMonti-
cellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Miner
Ill, Dry and Chloride creeks and South
Cork. There are, in the Range, the
following towns: Grafton, Fairyiew,
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchitlo Ne
gro is in the over 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 IN
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 tt do so, agricultural pur-
suits are followed.
Being well Watered, the ~pasturage
lands are fully available, and the stock
interests are in good condition.
The main interests Of Sierra county
ere centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts are:
Apache, Black Range, Cuchillo Negro,
Kingston, Hermosa, Animas, Hills
borough, Percha and Lake Valley.
TIE center of Apache mining dis
trict is Chloride; in Chloride gulch