The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-31
Sierra County.

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 and
on the west by rant and Socorro coun-
ties. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary for
4s 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, and
and about the same from east TO west,
2,S76 square miles, the county has a dl-
versihed topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem Oh
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south, along the east bank OF the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobal ana
Caballo) and at their western base hat
river, leaving about one-third OF Inc
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 the
westernmost portion. Sloplng' hoC
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
low southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep INTO
lhe plains.
Elevations,ji in the northern part OF the
county, vary from 1884 (FesVS Ferry
to 5,l77 Alamosal, 6,54O' canada Ala
nc psaI, to S,o4j Nails Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 4.OcO lRlo
Grande, above Rinconl, to 1850 laboVe
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsborough, l.
494 [Berrenda spring., to 1874 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side OF the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [below Lava stationl
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 nc
doubt. AS a proof that water exists,
the railroad well, at Upham station,
formerly Martins well may be men
TONED. The AtchisOD, Topeka " Santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, sklrtlng II
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station,
with Lake Valley, by a n%ortherly
branch of IS miles.
Stage lines connectthe country across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engie
citation, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride,
Eairview and Grafton, or i'll the south
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough'
Kingston, Peagcha City and hermosa
which latter, also, can he reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro
The western part of the county is
well 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, with Alamosa [Montl-
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
following towns: Grafton, Fairview,
Chloride and Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the 10 yer valley.
Rio Palomas, 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 we'll divided into the
valley, mesa and mountain land en-
bracing a considerable section of the
Rio rande valley, where agriculture
Is followed; wherever openings in the
valleys of the different aAluents afford
room enough to do so, agricultural pur
quits are followed.
Being well watered. the ~pasturage
lands are fully available, and the stock
interests are in good condition.
The main interests of Sierra county
are conferred in the mines.
The principal mining districts are:
Apache. Black Range, Cuchlllo Negro,
Kingston, Hermosa. Animas, Hills
borough, Percha and Lake Valley.
The center of Apache mining dis