The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-03-06
Sierra County.

' (Tsken From tatistics Comphea % tne
Bureau Of Immigrationl.
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 taKeh);
on the south by Dcna Ana comfy anu
On the westby rant aud Socorro coun-
ties. The principal meridian of New
Mexico forms its eastern boundary ior
as miles. The summit of the BLACK
Range is the western limit. III not
very large in extent, averaging NIFTY
four miles from north TO south. n
and about the same from east TO west
1916 square miles, the county has a Ill
versided topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem Oh
mountain ranges. running from nortn
to south, along the east bank Oh 'he
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristoba ana
Caballo) and at their western base that
river. leaving about one-third or the
area of the county on the eastern
hank. On the west side plains. inter
rupted here and there by promlnehces
extend to the foot hills of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Sloplng' not
only from north to- south, but also
from the northeast to southwest Ihe
drainage is well defined. With the ex-
ceptiou of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, which now
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
dow southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep MO
che plains.
Elevations,,i in the northern part OF the
county, vary from i,4S4 (Fest's Ferry
to 5,l77 Alamosal, 6,549' lCauada Ala
mps.l, TO S,Ol5 Nails Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western iboundary
IN the northern part from 4,0cO lkio
Grande, above Rinconl, to 1859 laboVe
Mutt stationl. 1924 [Hillsboroughb i
A94 [Berrenda spring., to 1874 lHen-
bricks Peakl. On the east side OF The
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [below Lava statlonl
to 4.342 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 obtain
ed by sinking tubular wells. there is no
doubt. AS a proof that water exists
che railroad well, at Upham station
formerly Martins we'll may be men
tioned. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe road runs through the entire length
of this part of the country, sklrtlng IL
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station
with Lake Valley, by a northerly
branch of Is miles.
Stage lines %connectthe country across
tine Rio Grande. starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride
Fairyiew and Grafton, or in the soutt
from Lake Valley to. Hillsborough
Kingston, PeMcha City and hermosa
which latter, also, can be reached IRON
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro
The western part OF the ouhty II
well watered by creeks and treains
In the northwest corner, eight or plhe
creeks empty into the ella, on The
west side of the Black Range. On tht
east side are, heading in the BLACK
Range. Alamosa creek, having a Soutl
easterly course, with Alamosa lMontl
cellol the principal town.
Rio Cuchillo Negro; its upper course
is formed by Poverty, Pine, Bear, Minel
al, Dry and Chloride creeks and souti
Fork. There are, in the Range, the
following towns: Grafton, FalrVlew
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 ant
the same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with severa
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hlll'
borough.
The county is well divided into thu
valley, mesa and mountain land EN-
bracing a considerable section of th'
Rio rande valley, where agriculture
Is followed; wherever openings in th'
valleys of the different ~afauents aiforC
room enough TODD so, agricultural pur
suits are followed.
Being we'll watered, the pasturagt
lands are fully available. and the stock
interests are in good condition.
Thc main interests of Sierra county
are conferred in the mines.
The principal mining districts are
Apache, Black Range, Cuchlllo Negro
irCst HprmOsa, ADlmaS, HIS