The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-25
spGINs OTHER ISLANDS.
Something OF Unknown West Indies We
WI soon Own.

Something OF Unknown West lnuIos we
wan soon Own.
New York Herald: Cuba and Porto
Rico have often been told about. Over
the first the United States government
will for time exercise a protectorate;
over the second our government will ex.
erclse ownership. But while these two
are the largest and finest and most
valuable Spanish possessions in these
waters, 1t should not be forgotten that
In the terms proposing cessation OF
,i,eettl,. tl,.s-aRG. Rs&ettIpmen OF salts
factory peace occurs the supGtHt!sTL
that rot only shall Porto Rico be coded
to the United States. but also that all
the other islands situated in West In
dian waters now belonging TO Spain
shall likewise he forfeited to the gov
eminent at Washington.
There are two or three OF these is
lands, small and unimportant, but yet
OF come account. and several islets and
GAYS, perhaps a dozen oil told. which
are adjacent to Porto Rico. They are
collectively known us the Passage is
lands. and comprise all the islands and
Gays lying between the Virgin passage
aud the east end Of Porto.
The second largest Of these is Culebra
island, about sixteen miles TO the east
ward Of Cape San Juan, as the north
east point of Porto Rico Is called. 1t Is
six miles long by three broad. culebrn
Island, sometimes called Carlit or Ser
pent island, Is OF very irregular out
line. The northern shore Is steep and
bald. on all the other sides there are
small islets and reefs which shelter
good unchorages The island Is unln-
habIted, 1t Is OF moderate elevation,
broken and rugged, with scarcely a
level spot on the surface. Near the CEN
It rises to height Of $50 feet.
Near Culebra Is Northeast cay, very
small oval shaped, $40 feet high and
thIckly wooded.
Bird cay, a triCle larger, lies 300 yards
from Northeast cay. Bird cay Is re-
markable small rocky islet, sixty feet
high. About q mile from 1t are two
small rocky Islets, fifteen feet or so
high, and 800 yards southeast are two
more about eighty feet high.
Culebra islet, or Little Culebra, lies
about a mile from Culebrn. It, too. Is
OF irregular shape. Is 800 feet high and
thlckly wooded. From the highest part
OF the Islet fixed white light is exhlb-
tied at an elevation OF sos feet, and Is
visible in clear weather nearly fifteen
miles. There are only a few inhabu-
tants on the island.
Excellent anchorage can be found
within the GAYS and Islands. Just de-
sCribed, but the best, called the Sound,
is toward their southern end, under the
Ice OF the reef.
Great Harbor, in the southern part OF
Cuiebra, is one OF the most secure bas-
ms In the West indies. 1t Is mile long
and half mile wide, OF irregular shape
but there are no inhabitants or villages
here, and, OF curse, no facilities OF any
kind.
Crab island, called also vieques Is
land, six miles to the eastward OF Porto
Rico, Is the largest and most important
OF the Passage group, being seventeen
miles long by five broad. A ridge Of
small hills runs nearly Its whole length
along the middle OF the island and rises
| to a moderate height at the southwest
eXtrcmlty OF the island. The south coast
Of the island is indented by several
small bays. one OF which, called Sound
or Settlement bay, Is defended by n
small fort There is n small village set
4 Element here.
on the northern shore of Grab island
Is Port Mula, at the mouth OF little
stream. II contains about !, 900 iuhabi-
tnnts, and Is the residence OF the gov
ernor, who Is nominated by the cap
tain general OF Porto Rico.
There is lighthouse erected at Mula
| point, from which Fixed red light IS
exhibited. There is comparatively no
trade except In fruits and fish IN this
archipelago. but undoubtedly these ia
| lands are capable Of development. ana
will pay fair revenue after they have
become a portion OF the United States
Their natural beauty is unsurpassed.
and over them the trade wind is CON
tlnually blowing, giving them a warm,
delightful climate.