The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-28
Sierra County.

6
the north aud east by Socorr0 county
out OF which it was mainly takenl;
on the south by Dona Ana county and
on the west by rant and SocOrro c0un-
ties. The principal meridian Of New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary for
IS miles. The summit Of the Black
Range is the western limit. Itnot
very large in extent, averaging fifty
four miles from north TO south, and
and about the same from east 10 west,
2,S76 square miles, the county has "A di-
Versiied topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem OF
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
river, leaving about one-third of the
area of the county on the eastern
bank. On the west side plains, inter
Tupted here and there by p"r0minences
extend to the foot hills of the Black
rangefor from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
w%esternm0st portion. Sl0plng, nor
only from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, Tie
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
flow southeast, into the Rio trande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep mo
the plains.
Elevations,I in the northern part Of the
county, vary from 1884 (Fest's Ferry
to SLIT AlamOsal, 0,54O canada Ala
mosal, to S,O45 NelPs Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 5000 LRio
Grande, above Rinconl to 1850 Laboye
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsbor0ughI, T.
494 [Berrenda spring., to 1914 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side Of the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from 4,72O below Lava stationL
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 Atchison, Topeka & 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
the Rio Grande, starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride,
Fairview and Grafton, or in the 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
we'll 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,gwiJh Alam0sa Month
cellol the principal, town.
Rio. Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
Is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Miner
al, Dry and Chloride creeks and South
Fork. There are, in the Range, the
followingbtowns: Grafton, Fairyiew,
Chloride and .HermosM. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the,l0 yer valley.
Rio Pal0mas, 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 en-
bracing Il considerable section Of the
Rio rande valley, where agriculture
is followed; wherever openings in the
valleys of the different adiuents afford
room enough todO 50, agricultural pur
suits are followed.
Being well watered, the p~asturage
lands are fully available, and the stock
interests are in good condition.
The main interests Of Sierra county
are centered in the mines.
The principal mining districts are:
Apache, Black Range, CuchlIIo Negro,
Kingston, Hermosa, Auimas, Hills
borough, Percha and Lake Valley.
The center of Apache mining dis
trict is Chloride; in Chloride gutch
Dry creek, Mineral creek, Bear creek,