The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-06-25
Sierra County.

(Taken From STATISTICS Compiled b. q
Bureau Of I~nmigration).
Sierra county is situated in sout
central New Mexico, being bounded d
che north and east by Socorro count
out OF which it was mainly taken.
on the south by Dona Ana county an
on the west by rant and Socorro cour
ties. The principal meridian of NeV
Mexico forms its eastern boundary 70
IS miles. The summit of the Blac
Range is the western limit. If no
very large in extent, averaging fifty
tcur miles from north to south, ant
and about the same from east to west
1910 square miles, the county has Q di
Versided topography. In the extremI
east are large plans; then asystem o.
mountain ranges, running from norti
to south, along the east bank of the
Rio Grande Sierra Fs Cristobal and
Oaballo) and at their western base tha'
river, leaving about one-third OF the
area of the county on the eastern
bank. On the west side plains, inter
iupted 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
W%esternmost portion. Slipping, not
only from north to south, but also
from the northeast to southwest, the
drainage is we'll defined. With the ex-
ception Of q few creeks, in the utter
most northw corner, which flow
westward into the Rio ella, all streams
how 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 1854 (Fest's Ferry
TO SIT Alamosal, G,540 Canada Ala
mosal, to S,O45 NeIl'5 Pass, from the
Rio Grande, to the western boundary
IN the northern part from 1900 Trio
Grande, aboye Rinconl, to 4,6S9 [above
Mutt stationl, 1924 [Hillsboroughb l.
1914 [Berrenda spring., to 1874 Hen
bricks Peak. On the east side of the
Rio Grande, the plains gradually des-
cend from APO [below Lava stationI,
to 4.942 feet above Grama, in a distance
of forty-elght miles. There are springs
scattered over this eastern part OF the
country, and that water can be obtain
cd bysinking tubular wells, there is no
doubt. AS a proof that water exists,
che railroad we'll, at Upham station,
formerly Martins we'll may be men
toned. The AtchisOn, Topeka &Santa
Ee road runs through the entire length
Of this part of the country, skirting 1t
also around its southern limits, and
making connection, at Mutt station,
with Lake Valley, by a %northerly
branch of 10 miles.
: Stage lines ~connectth the 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.
1.-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, Alamosa 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 uermosa. Cuchillo Ne
gro is in the lower 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
beads, Percha City, Kingston and Hills
Borough.
The county is well divided into the
mesa and mountain land en-
a considerable section of the
Rio ranfG valley. where ~agricultnrp
IS followed; wherever openings in the ]
of the different ~allneuts afford
room enough TODD so, agricultural pur
are followed.
Being well Watered, the pasturage Z
lands are fully available, and the stock
interests are in good condition.
The mall interests of Sierra county I
conferred in the mines. =
Tbs principal mining districts are:
EpaChe, Black RANCE Curiuuo N,cro 4