The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-04-16
Sierra County.

tIaken FROM StatlsEcs omplled oy tbs
Bureau Of ITmigrationl.
Sierra county is situated in south
central New Mexico, being bounded On
the north aud 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
Is miles. The summit of the Black
Range is the western limit. If not
very large in extent, averaging fifty
four miles from north to south, and
End about the same from east to west,
1876 square miles, the county has a d.
yersided topography. In the extreme
east are large plains; then asystem of
mountain ranges, running from north
to south, along the east bank of the
Rio Grande Sierra Fa Cristobal and
Caballo) and at their western base that
river, leaving about one-third of the
area of the county 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, not
only from north to, south, but also
2rnp1 fha nnrfhnnaf 70 Cnuth UnEt tho
drainage is we'll defined. With the eX-
ception of a few creeks, in the utter
most northwest corner, which flow
westward into the Rio CHA, all streams
dow southeast, into the Rio Grande.
The beds Of these streams, approach
ing their mouths, are. worn deep into
the plains.
Elevations,lin the northern part of the
county, vary from 1884 (Fest's Ferry
TO 5,l77 Alamosal. 6,54O canada Ala
mosal, to s,Ol5 Nelrs Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
in the northern part from 1900 Trio
Grande, above Rinconb to4,6S0 Labove
Mutt station, 1924 [Hillsboroughh i
1914 [Berrenda springb to 1914 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side Of the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from 4,720 [below Lava station,
to 1912 feet above Grama, in a distance
Of forty.elght miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part of the
country, and that water a be obtain
ed b. 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 & Santa
1Ee road. runs through the entire length
Of this part Of the country, skirting it
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station,
with Lake Valley, by a northerly
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 Hillsb0rough,
Kingston, Pearcha City .and hermosa
which latter, also, can 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, on the
west side of the Black Range. On the
east side are, heading in the Black
Range, AIamosa creek, having a south
easterly course, with AlamOsa [MOnti-
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 lover 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 aNluents afford
room enough to do SO, agricultural pur
quits are followed.
Being well watered, the pasturage
lands are fully available. and the stock
nterests 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,