The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-07-09

Sierra County.

1ereeu Of lHlmigretion).
Sierra county is situated in south
central New Mexico. being bounded On
che north aud east by S0corrO county
cut OF which it was mainly taken);
On the south by DQna Ana county aud
en- the west byrant and SoeorrO coan
ties. The principal meridian Of New
Mexico forms itsesstern boundary for
&c miles. Ths summit Of the Black
Range Is the western limit. If not
very large in extent, averaging fifty
four miles from north to south. and
ana about the same from east TO west,
s~,s7esquare miles, the county has a di-
Versiaed topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem OF
mountain ranges, running from north
TO south, along the east bank o. the
Rio G rande Sierra Fa Cristobal and
Caballo) and at their western base that
river, leaving about one-third of the
srea of the couaty on the eastern
bank. On the west side plains. inter
rupted here and there by prominences
extend to the foot hills Of the Black
range for from twenty to thirty miles
while finally that range occupies the
westernmost portion. Slipping, MOI
only from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, the
drainage is well defined. With the ex-
eeption of a few creeks, in The utter
most north west corner, which flow
westward into the Rio ella. all streams
aow southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are worn deep into
she plains.
.iElevaticns,tiu the northern part otthe
county, vary from 1884 (Fest's Ferry
tofb,177 AlamosaI, 6.54o canada Ala
mosal, to S,O45 NelIs Pass. from the
Rio Graude, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1000 lklo
Grande, above Rinconb to 4,6S9 LaboVe
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsboroughl, i
494 GBerrenda springl, to 1914 lHen-
bricks Peakls On the east side OF the
Bio Grande, the plains gradually ce5-
cSend from APO below Lava stationI,
70 I,342 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-eight 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 no
doubt. AS a proof that water exlstS'
she railroad well, at Upham station
Formerly Martins well may be mon
Stoned. The Atchison, Topeka &Santa
Fe road runs througlp the entire length
Of this part of the country, skiTting 1t
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station'
with Lake Valley, by a nortneriy
branch of 10 miles.
Stagelines c~onnectthe country across
she Rio Grande. starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro, Chloride,
Fairview and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hills0orough.
Kingston, Pearcha City ,and Hernosa
which latter, also. car be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
The western part of the county Is
we'll watered by creeks and streams.
IN the northwest corner. eight or nine
creeks empty into the ella, Cd the
west side Of the Black Range. On the
east side are, heading in the Black
Range, Alamosa creek, having q south
easterly course, with Alamo5a MONT
cellol the principal town.
Rio uchjlo 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. Cuchlllo Ne
gro is in the'lo yer valley.
Rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio AMI
mas creeks are Of the same origin and
she same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with several
aeAds, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
borough.
The G~ountyis well 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 afluents afford
room enough toGo 50, agricultural pur
suits 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
ere conferred in the mines.
l1he principal mining districts are:
Apache. Black Range, Guchiuo Negro,
u A. s IVsrI-