The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-10
Sierra County.

Taken From tatistics Complied oy tns
Rureau Of Immigrationl. |,
Sierra county is situated in south
cen raj New Mexico, being bounded On
the north and east by Socorro county
out OF which it was mainly takenl;
on the south by Dona Ana county ana
on the west by rant and Socerro coun-
ties. The principal meridian OF New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary LOT
as miles. The summit of the BLACK
Range is the western limit. Ii not
very large in extent, averaging ntty-
four miles from north TO south. II
and about the same from east TO west'
2,S76 square miles, the county has a ui-
versided topography, In the extreme
east are large plains; then a system OF
mountain ranges, running from north
20 south, along the east bank Oh the
Rio rande Sierra Fa Cristobal ana
taballo) and at their western base nat
river, leaving about one-third OF the
area of the county on the eastern
hank. On the west side plains, inter
rnpted here and there by p~romlpences
extend to the foot hills of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies tne
westernmost portion. Sloping' not
only from north to south, puC aiSo
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 ho"
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
aow southeast, into the Rio Grahue'
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep ih'o
the plains. no
Elevations,,in the northern part OF the
county, vary from 1,4s4 (Fests ferrN
20 5,l77 Alamosal, 6,54l canada Ala
m5sal. to S,)l5 Nslrs Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western'lpoundary
IN the northern part from 4,OcO lhlo
Grande, above Rinconl, to 1859 labove
Mutt stationI. 1924 [H~illsboroughh l.
4o4 [Berrenda sprlngl, to 1874 lhen-
bricks Peakl. On the east side OF the
RIO Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from 4.72O [below Lava station
TO 1912 feet above Grama, in a distance
OF forty-elght miles. There are springs
scattered oyer this eastern part OF the
country, and that water can be ooIa'h-
ed by sinking tubular wells. there IS no
doubt. AS "a proof that water exists
the railroad well. at Upham station
formerly Martins we'll may be men
TONED. The Atchison, Topeka q Santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, sklrtlhg l.
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northeiiS
branch of 10 miles.
Stage lines connectthe country across
tne Rio Grande. starting from Engl'
s%tatiou, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride
Fatrview and Grafton, or i'll the soutl
From Lake Valley to Hillsborough
Kingston, Pearcha City and hermosi
which latter, also, can be reached lfou
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part of the county II
we'll watered by creeks and streams
In the northwest corner, eight or nln'
creeks empty into the ella, on tn
west side of the Black Range. On III
cast side are, heading in the Blacl
Range. Alamosa creek, having a soutl
e~asterIy course, with Alamosa tMontl
cellol the principal town.
RIO Cnchillo Negro; its upper cours
Is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Mine
al. Dry and Chloride creeks and SoutI
Fork. There are, in the Range, VI
following towns: Grafton, FairvleW
Chloride aud Hermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the 10 Ner valley,
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio AM
mas creeks are of the same origin an
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with seVera
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hill
borough.
The county is well divided into tn
VALLEY, mesa and mountain land en-
hracinc a considerable section OF tn
Rio rande valley, where agricultpr
is followed; wherever openings in I'll
valleys of the different afluents affor
room enough to do so, agricultural pu
suits are followed.
Beng we'll watered, the pasturag
lands are fully available, and the stpc
interests are in good condition,
The main interests of Sierra count
are conferred in the mines.
The principal mining districts ar
Anache Black Range, Cuchlllo Negr