1999 Map of Rael Spring

About this map

The Tularosa Mountains rise abruptly from the Plains of San Agustin in this high-desert landscape of western New Mexico. Much of the western terrain is protected within the Gila National Forest, where the topography is defined by sharp drainages like Sawmill Canyon and Musick Canyon. The map reveals a land structured by water rights and ranching boundaries, dominated by the Triple T Ranch and a network of named water sources including Frank Well, Boss Well, and the eponymous Rael Spring. Human activity is concentrated along Bursum Road, which follows the transitional topography between the forest and the open plains. Large-scale surveying markers, including the Second Guide Meridian West and the First Standard Parallel South, illustrate how this expansive territory was organized into sections and townships.