The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-07
Sierra County.

q 1PaNA'N
central New Mexico, being bounded on
the north and east by SOcorrO county
out of which it was mainly taken)i
. the gouth by DOna Ana county and
on the west by rant and SocorTo conn
ties. The principal meridian u Ne"
Mexico forms its eastern boundary loT
IS miles. The summit of the Back
Range is the western limit IL not
very large an extent, averaging hl'y
four miles from north to south, Il
and about the same from east 10 WeSI'
2,376 square miles, the county has u
versi6ed topography. In the extreme
east are large plans; then asysIem Vi
mountain ranges, running from north
20 south, along the east bank OF the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa CriStooal ana
Caballo) and at their western base tha'
river. leaving about one-third OF Jhe
orea of the county on the eastern
bank. On the west side plains inter
rupted here and there by promlheLcoS
extend to the foot hills of the black
range for from twenty to thirty mics
while finally that range occupies j
westernmost portion. SloPlng' not
only from north TO SOUTH ouC aiso
from the northeast to southwest, Vhe
drainage is well defined, with the OK
c~ention of A few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, winch no"
westward into the Rio CHA, all streams
dow southeast, into the Rio Grande'
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep INFO
the plains. D.,
Elevations; n the northern part ofthe
county, vary from 1884 CFest's Ferry
to 5,l77 Alamosal, $50 canada Ala
mosaI, to S,Ol5 NeiIs Pass, from t1he
Rio Grande, to thal western boundary
in the northern part from 1900 Ltlo
Grande, aboye RinconL to4,6sJ laDoVe
Mutt station 1924 [HillsOorougbb i
494 [Berrenda spring., to 1874 lien
,drick's Peak. On the east side OF the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO below Lava statLonL
20 4842 feet above Grama, IL a distance
of forty.elght miles There are springs
scattered over this eastern part OIL Ihe
country, and that water can be Obtain
ed bysiuking tubular wells, there IS no
dou6t. AS a proof that water exists,
She railroad well, at Upham station
formerly Martins well may be men
tjoned. The Atchison, Topeka santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, sklrtHlg II
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a nortAerlJ
branch Of 10 miles.
Stage lines connect the country across
tne Rio Grande, starting from Englt
station, to CuchijlO Negro Chloride
Fairview and Grafton, or in the souJi
from Lake Valley to, I~llllsoorough
Kingston, Pear5ha CITY and hermoS'
which latter, also, can be reached iron
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro
The western part Of the county !
well watered by creeks and streams
IN the northwest corner, eight or min
creeks empty into the CHA on tn
west side Of the Black Range. On tn
east side are, heading in the BIac.
Range, Alamosa creek, having a sout
easterly course, with AIamosa tMon'i
cellol the principalitown.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper cours
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Mine
al, Dry and Chloride creeks aud Soul
Fork. There are, in the Range, tn
following towns: Grafton, EairVle"
Chloride and Hecmosa. Cuchillo Nc
gro is in the 10 yer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and RIO An.
mas creeks are of the same origin an
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters. with severe
heads Percha City, Kingston end Hill
borough.
The county is well divided into til
valley, mesa and mountain land eu
5racing "A considerable section Of tn
Kio rande valley where a~grjcultuI
is followed; wherever openings in tn
valleyg of the different a6luents atfor