The Black range., 1895-06-07
SierraCounty.


Bureau Of Immigrafionl.
Sierra county is situated Fin south
entral New Mexico. being bounded on
the nortlsand eSst ny SOcorro county
out Of when it was mainly takenl;
on the south by DcDa Ana county and
on the west by raut aud socorro coaa-
3les. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary i0r
Sc miles. The summit of TIE Black
Range is the western limit. If no;
very large in extent, averaging aGy-
four miles from north 10 soush. anu
and about the saaie from east 10 west,
2.S76 square miles. the county has d.
yersided topography. IN tue extreme
east are large plains; then asy stem OF
mountain ranges. running from north
TO south, along the east hank Of The
Rio Grande Sierra ia CristoOai and
Caballo) 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 prominences
extend to the foot hills Of tie Black
range for from twenty TO thirty miles
While finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloplng. not
only from north 10 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 iow
westward into the Rio Gi!a, all streams
dow southeast, into the Rio sGrande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep into
the plains.
Elevations i'm the northern part of the
county, vary from T,4Si (Fest's Ferry
to 5,I77 Alamosal. 6,j4O canada Ala
mosal, to 500 Nelrs Pass, from the
Rio Grande. to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1900 Rio
Grande, above RincOnl, to 1850 labove
Mutt stationl. 1924 [Iliilsborougnh l.
494 rBerrenda springl, to 1911 Hen
dricks Peakl. On the east side Of the
RIO Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO below Lava stations
to 4.342 feet above Grama, in 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,
the railroad well, at Upham station,
formerly Martins Well may be men
toned. The AtchisoD, Topeka u santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, skirting it
also around it's southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station,
with Lake Valley, by northerly
branch of 13 miles.
Stage lines connect the country across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride,
Fairview and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hiilsborough,
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 Gila, on Tho
west side Of the Black Range. On tht
east side are, healing in the Blact
Range, Alamosa creek, having souti
easterly course, with Alamosa [Monti
cellol the principal.town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Mine.
al, Dry and Chloride creeks and SOutl
Fork. There are, in the Range th'
following towns: Grafton, Fairyiew
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the loGer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio SeeO and Rio Ami
mas creeks are of tie same origin ant
the same general course
Rio Percha waters, with severa
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hill,
borough.
The county is we'll divided into thl
valley, mesa and mountain land em
bracing considerable section of thI
Rio rande valley, where agriculture
is followed: wherever openings in TIN
valleys of the different afllneDts aiforC
room enough to do so, agricultural pur
suits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturagt
lands are fully available, and the stool
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra. county
are centeIed in the mines, :
The principal mining districts are
Apache. Black Range, CuchIllo Negro
Kingston, Hermosa. Animas, Hills