The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-21
Sierra County.

ufTake From tatistics Compiled by the
bureau OF Immigratonl.
Sierra county is situated in south
central 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
on the west by rant and Socorro coun-
ties. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary Tor
Is miles. The summit of the BLACK
Range is the western limit. Ii not
very large in extent, averaging htty-
four miles from north to south, ana
and about the same from east TO west'
2,S76 square miles, the county has a oil
yersifed topography. In the extreme
east are large plans; then asystem Oh
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south, along the east bank OF the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristo0al ana
Caballol 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 promlnences
extend to the foot hills OF the BLACK
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies Uhe
westernmost portion. SlOplng' 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 now
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
flow southeast, into the Rio Grande'
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep I'M
the plains.
Elevations, IN the northern part Of the
county, vary from 1884 (FestS Ferry
to SIT Alamosal, 6,54O canada Ala
mosal, to S,O45 Nelrs Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to thel western boundary
in the northern part from 4'OCO Lkio
Grande, above Rinconl, to4,6S9 La0oVe
Mutt station, 1924 [Hillsborough, 4
494 CBerrenda spring., to 1914 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side OF the
RIO Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO below Lava station
to 1912 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 otain
ed by sinking tubular wells, there is nc
doubt. AS a proof that water EXISTS
the railroad we'll, at Upham station
formerly Martins we'll may be men
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka &Sant;
Fe road runs through the entire Length
Of this part of the country, sklrtlng l
also around its southern limits, ant
making connection, at Mutt station
With Lake Valley, by northerll
branch Of Is miles.
Stage lines connectth country acros
the Rio Grande, starting from Engl
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride
Fairview and Grafton, or in the Sout
from Lake Valley to. H~illsborougf
Kingston, Pearcha CITY sand hermos
which latter, also, can be reached trol
Engle, via Cuchlllo Negro
The western part of the county
we'll watered by creeks and stream
In the northwest corner, eight or Mn
creeks empty into the ella, on tn
west side of the Black Range. On tn
east side are, heading in the Blac
Range, Alamosa creek, having a sout
o tsterly course,iwith Alamosa Mont
cellol the principal town.
Rio. Cuchillo Negro; its upper cours
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Mine
al. Dry and Chloride creeks and Sout
Fork. There are, in the Range, th
following.towns: Grafton, FairyieV
Chloride and ,Hermosa. Cuchillo N
gro is in the 10 yer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Az
mas creeks are of the same origin an
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with sever;
heads, Percha City, King, ton and Hill
borough.
The county is we'll divided into tt
valley, mesa and mountain land en-
bracing a considerable section of I'll
Rio rande valley, where %agricultuI
is followed; wherever openings in I'll
valleys Of the different afiuents atfol
COON enough TODD 50, agricultural pu
quits are followed.
Beng well watered, the pastural
lands are fully available, and the sto(
interests are in good condition.
The main interests Of Sierra count
are conferred i'll the mines.
The principal mining districts ar
Anacha Rlack Range. CuChlllO Negr