The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-07-23

Sierra County.

central New Mexico, odlug oOuhue" %
she north aud east by SOcorro county
cut iOf which it was mainly taken)
ch the south by Dona Ana county anu
en- the west by rant aud Soeorro couh
Ties. The principal meridian oil Ne"
Mexico forms its eastern boundary tor
Is miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. Ii not
yerylarge in extent, averaging Afty-
fouk miles from north TO south, ana
aKd about the same from east to West
1916 square miles, the county mass III
versi6ed topography. In tue extreme
east are large plains; then asystem oi
mountain ranges, running from nortn
20 south, along the east bank Of tue
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobal n
Caballo) and at their western base that
river, leaving about one-thlrd OF the
area of the county on the eastern
hank. 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 Il
westernmost portion. Sloplng' not
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 north west corner, which low
westward into the Rio ella. all streams
Cow southeast, into the RIO Grande
The beds of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, re worn deep mo
tie plains. -
Elevations,fn the northern part OF the
county, vary from 1854 (Fest's Ferry
Co 5,l77 Alamosal, 6,54O canada Ala
mosal, to s,O45 NeII's Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 4,OeO lhlo
Grande, above RinconL to4,6S9 laoove
Mutt stationL. 1924 [Hlllsboroughl, Il
z94[Berrenda spring., to 1914 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side Oh the
RIO Grande, the plains gradually des-
send from ALTO [below Lava statlonl,
70 4342 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-eight miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part OIL the
country, and that water can be OBTAIN
cd bysinking 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
fioned. The Atchison, 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 northeIly
branch Of IS miles.
Stage lines c~onnectthe country across
the Rio Grande. starting from Engle
station, to Cuchillo Negro. Chloride,
Fairview and Grafton, or in the south
from Lake Valley to Hillsborough'
Kingston, Pearcha City land hermosa
which latter. also. can be reached from
Engle, via Cuchillo Negro.
rThe 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, on the
west side Of the Black Range. On the
east side are, heading in the Black
Range, Alamosa creek, having a south
ossterly course, with Alamosa MONT
cetlol 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. Cachillo Ne
gro is in the lower valley.
rio Palomas, Rio Seco and Rio Ami
mas creeks are of the same origin and
Che same general course.
Rio Percha waters, with several
heads, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
borough.
The county is well divided into the
valley, mesa and mountain land EN-
braeing a considerable section of the
Rio rande valley, where agriculture
is followed; wherever openings in the
valleys Of the different ahiuents afford
rocm enough to do 50, agricultural pur
suits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturaGe
lands are fully available, and the stock
interests are in good condition.
fThe main interests Of Sierra county
ere centered in the mines.
4 4he principal mining districts are.
Apache. Black Range, Cuchlllo Negro,
Ain9stOn, Lermosa, Animas, Hills
borough, Fercha and Lake Valley.
sThe center Of Apache mining dis
frlct ia ChlCride. in Chloride pulch