The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-03

edtraI New 4exiee being bounded on
the north aud east 0y Sscorro county
out OF whlch it was mainly takenl
On the south by Dcna Ana county and
on the west Ry rant and Socorro coun'
sies. The principal meridian of New
Mexico fortas It's eastern boundary for
4S miles. Tire summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. If not
very large in extent, averaging fifty
four miles from north to south. and
and about the same from east TO west
2.376 square miles, the county has a di-
yersided topography. In the extreme
east are large plalus; then asystem OF
mountain ranges, running from north
20 south. along the east bank of the
Rio G gande Sierra Pa Cristobal and
Caballol and ut their western base that
river, leaving ab0Gt 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 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
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 1881 (Fest's Ferry
TO 5,l7 Alamosal, 6,54O canada Ala
mosal, % s,ll Nelrs Pass, from the
Rio GraaGe, to the western boundary
IN the northern part from 1000 Trio
Grauje, above Rinconl, to 1859 [above
Mutt statiou, SPA [Hillsboroughl, L
49l [Berrenda spring., to 1914 Hen
bricks PeakI. On the east side of the
Rio 6rande, the plains gradually des-
eend from APO [below Lava station,
10 1912 feet above Grama, in a distance
Of forty.elght miles. There are springs
saattered over this eastern part OF the
country, and that water a be obtain
ed by shaking 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 AtchisoD, Topeka Il 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,
Nth Lake Valley, by a northerly
branch of 10 miles.
Stage lines connect the country across
I he Rio Grande, starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride,
Falrview and Grafton, or in the south
/. rom Lake Valley to Hillsborough,
Kingston, Pearcha City and ifermosa
latter, also, can be reached from
via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part. of tie county is
we'll watered by creeks and streams.
n the northwest corner, eight or nine
empty into the ella, on the
west side Of the Black Range. On the
east side are. healing in the Black
Alamosa creek, having a south
,asterly course, with Alamosa MONT
sellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
5 formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Miner
Il, Dry and Chloride creeks and South
Fork. There are, in the Range, the
.ollowing towns: Grafton, Fairview,
chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
no is in the 10 Eer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Ami
nas creeks are of the same origin and
he same general course. /
Rio Percha waters, with several
leads, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
'orough.
The countyis well divided into the
alley, mesa and mountain land en-
racing a considerable section of the
Ito rande valley, where agriculture
followed; wherever openings in the
of the different afiuents afford
enough to do So, agricultural pur-
tits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturage
Inds are fnlly available. and the stock
lterests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra county
70 centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts are:
paehe. Black Range, Cuchlllo Negro,
iIgston, Hermosa, Animas, Hills
Percha and Lake Valley.
The center of Apache mining dis
Ict il Chloride in Chloride gulch