The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1895-02-08
Sierra County.

Sierra county Is situated in sOaA
sntral New Mexico. being bounded 81
the north and east by Socorro count.
out of which it was mainly takeul
on the goutb by Dona Ana county anC
on the west by rant and SocOrro cOun
es, The principal meridian of New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary fol
as miles. The summit of the BLACK
Range is the western limit. Ii moi
very large in extent, averaging fifty
four miles from north TO south, and
and about the same from east TO west
2,S76 square miles. the county has a di'
versifed topography. In the extreme
east are large PLAINS; then asystem OF
mountain ranges, running from north
20 south, along the east bank of the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobal and
CabaIlo) 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 thereby 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 northwes corner, which flow
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
Aow southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep into
the plains.
Elevations,Ii i'm the northern part of the
county, vary from 1884 (Fest's Ferry
to 5,l7T Alamossl, $50 canada Ala
mosal, to s,O45 Nell's Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1900 Trio
Grande, aboYe Rinconl, to4,6Se [above
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsboroughb T.,
494 [Berrenda spring., to 1914 LHen-
bricks PeakI. On the east side of the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from 4.720 [below Lava s%tationl,
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 by sinking tubular wells. there is no
AS a proof that water exists,
che railroad well, at Upham station,
formerly Martins we'll may be men
toned. The Atchison, Topeka u 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 13 milas,
Stage lines conhectthe country across
The Rio Grande, starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride,
Fairview ard Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough,
Pearcha City and hermosa
latter, also, can be reached from
via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part of the county is
we'll watered by creeks and streams.
In the northwest corner, eight or nine
empty into the ella, on the
west side OF the Black Range. On the
east side are, heading in the Black
Alamosa creek, having a south
easterly course, with AlamOsa [Monti-
,ello] the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
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
is in the 10 yer valley,
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Ami
mas creeks are of the same origin and
he same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with several
.eads, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
0rough.
The county is well divided into the
alley, mesa and mountain land en-
racing a considerable section of the
sio rande valley, where agriculture
followed; wherever openings in the
alleys of the different aft uents afford
Dom enough TODD so, agricultural pur-
uits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturage
lnds are fully available, and the stock
l~terests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra county
re conferred in the mines.
The principal mining districts are:
,pache. Black Range, Cuchillo Negro,
.ingston Hermosa, Anjmas, Hills
Drough, Percha and Lake Valley.
The center of Apache mining dis