The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1895-03-15
Sierra County.

Sierra county is situated In south
entral New Mexico, being bounded on
the north and east by Socorro county
out OF which it was mainly taken
on the south by Dona Ana county ana
en- the west by rant and Socorro coun'
aies. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico ferns It's eastern boundary Tor
As miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. II not
very large in extent, averaging hity-
four miles from north TO south. ana
and about the same from east to weSt'
2,S76 square miles, the county has a dl-
versihed topography. In the extreme
cast are large plains; then asystem OF
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south, along the east bank OF the
Rio Grsnde Sierra Fa Cristobal ana
CabalIo) 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
rnnted here and there by prominences
extend to the foot hills of the BLACK
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloplng' not
only from north to south, but also
from fine northeast to southwest, the
drainage is we'll defined. With the e&-
~rentiou of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, which now
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
fow southeast, into the RIO Grahue'
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep mo
the plains. ,,o
Eleyations,in the northern part OF the
county, vary from 1,4S4 Fest's Ferry)
to Eft Alamosa], 6,540 lCanada Ala
mosal. to s.O45 Nell's Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1000 lhio
Grande. above Rincon], to 4,6S9 Labove
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsboroughb L
494 [Berrenda spring., to 1874 lien
bricks Peak. On the east SIDE OIL .he
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO below Lava stationl,
to 4342 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 nc
doubt. AS a proof that water ex]stS
the railroad well, at Upham station
formerly Martins WE'LL may be men
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka u Santa
Fe road runs through the entire lengtl
Of this part of the country, sklrtlng l.
also around its southern limits, anC
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northern!
branch of Is miles.
I Stage lines connectt the country acros
the Rio Grande, starting from Engl
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride
Fairview and Grafton, or in the sout
from Lake Valley to Hillsborougf
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermos
which latter, also, can be reached fror
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 ID
westside of the Black Range. On III
east side are, heading in the Biac
Range, Alamosa creek, having a sout
easterly course, with Alamosa Mont
eellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper cour'
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Min'
al, Dry and Chloride creeks and Soul
Fork. There are, in the Range, u
following towns: Grafton, Fairvie'
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo N
gro is in the lover valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Al
mas creeks are. of the same origin al
the same general course!
Rio Percha waters, with sever
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hi
borough.
. The county is we'll divided into
valley, mesa and mountain land e
bracing a considerable section of t
Rio rande valley, where a~gricultl
is followed wherever openings in
valleys of the different afiuents aff(
room enough TODD so, agricultural p
/. suits are followed.
Being well watered, the pastur;
lands are fully available, and the st(
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra coul
are centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts a
Apache. Black Range, Cuchlllo Net
Kingston, Hermosa, Animas, Hi
horouoh percha and Lake Valley.