The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-13
.MANY SHALL ISLANDS.
Coast of Cuba and Porto Rico Dotted
With Them.
iron the Chicago Times-Herald)

NEIOIl the 0HlCdSO LAlAES-AACAd Adsy
The demand of the United States upon
Spain calls for the cession to the United
] States not only of Porto Rico, but of all
| the other West Indian islands except
| Cuba. The average man knows of but
/ the two great Spanish islands Cuba and
/ Porto Rico, but there are about a dozen
| others, some of them unimportant, but
others regarded as quite valuable.
| These islands are off the coast Of Cuba
| and Porto Rico. The greater number of
| them are near Cuba's Shore and it will
! be question for decision whether they
! shall belong to the United States by the
| terms of the treaty or whether they shall
/ be considered as a part of Cuba. For the
| most part these islands are like the reefs
! of Florida and the Bahamas. Some are
| of calcareous origin, being the creation of
4 the same coral builders that may be seen
through the transparent waters still at
work on the marine bed. These keys
I islands large enough TO he habita bic witt
! fresh water for the consumption of those
! who choose to make them their dwelling
place. The largest of these reefs on the
! northern shore is the Cayo Romano. with
an estimated area of $50 square miles, and
| its surface is broken by three -hiIlocks-
| The chief industry there, and, indeed. the
| only one that will thrive, is that of gath
pressions of from one to two feet deep.
| During the storms the waves dash over
| the Keys ana leave the expressions nlieq
| with water. When summer comes with
| its burning sun the heat dries the water
| ed that the CayO Romano could supply the
salt needed for the use of all Cuba.
| Reefs and islets are even more numer-
| Gus off the south coast of Cuba than in
! the north. Here they are farther from
| the shore and less regular.
! The most extensive island of the 1900
board is the Isla de Pinos (Tsle Of Pines),
/ which indeed, is nearly as large as all
| of SPANS possessions, made by official
| sources, it always has a place to itself.
! southwest coast of Cuba, consists really
| OF two lSIandsi separated by tortqous
/ winds at a nearly uniform width for about
/ three miles from west to east. From
/ miles in length, and from north to south
| its breadth is ifty-five miles, the area be-
Island, with excellent harbors. lofty noun
| tains, fertile plains and many rivers. In
| its center is mountain known as the
| Feet above the Level Of the sea. ana With
| precipices $50 feet in height. There are
| the Sierra de los Cabellos, 1O74 feet high,
| and several other smaller peaks. At the
| from which beautiful marble may be ex-
| tracted, although they have been worked
! are shallow several are navigable for four
or five miles, their main advantage being
| that they keep the island well watered.
The principal products are cattle, tobacco,
phur, pitch and tar, but there are also
The climate of the island is mild and
better chance for settlers, and yet it has
| only population of about 1900. The Isla
de PinOs has always been regarded as a
! dependency of Havana, and would prob
| ably be claimed by the Cuban govern
Between Porto Rico and the Virgin ISL
ands there is a group called the Passage
islands which will come into our possess
sion The largest and most important of
the group is ViequeS or Crab island, lying
nine miles on Porto RIco, and which is
eighteen miles long by four broad. The
little dirt on the barren rocks. a ridge
of small hills runs, through the middle,
end Of the island Isabel segunda on the
north side is the solitary village, and there
there are numerous bays, and at one time
| Vieques was the resort of pirates who
RETTe eyt 1n upon the rlch commerce OF the
Fishermen and woodcutters to the num-
Zebra the second largest island in the
| Passage group; Culebra lies about six
teen miles to the eastward of Cape San
and broken steep shore the island is also
| sometimes known as Serpent island. Like
Vieques, it's coast is indented with many
| There are many small hills that are COW
cred with scrub timber, but the soil is SO
! Porto Rico that no attempt is made to
cultivate it on an extensive scale, and the
fishing and cutting wood.
The principal village on Vieques is Port
Mula, where live 1000 Inhabitants, under
the direction of a governor appointed by
the governor general of Porto Rico. A
lighthouse stands at this port.
The other islands in this group are of
even less Importance. They are small
keys like those off the Florida coast and
few. are inhabited. Northeast key is small,
| oval shaped, $40 feet high and its two
square miles of area are thickly wooded.
Byrd key. near Northeast key, is four
| miles square in area and remarka bly,
rocky. Near by are other small islets
that are also wooded, but the dwelling
place of fishermen.
| on Culebrfta island or Little CuIebra
| is a lighthouse whose light, at an eleva-
! ton of 800 feet, can be seen for fifteen
miles.
| Two other islands worthy of mention
are at the western extremity of Porto
! Rico. These are Mona and MOnita ISL
| ands. Mona is near the Maya guez inlet
! flowing between Porto Rico and San Do
| rningo. Mona, that is, Monkey pass
age, terminates the west in a bold
/ headland topped by a huge overhanging
/ rock known to seamen by the suggestive
name of "CaigO o No CaigO?'' (Shan I
as MOnitO, or Little Monkey.
( In their present condition none of these
/ islands is of any Importance, but it is be-
/ ieved that under American rule they will
! be as prosperous as those of the same size
on western coast. Their climate is
| delightful and would make ideal summer
resorts The reason, however, for their
acquisition by the United States is to pre-
| vent Spain from retaining even a foot
| hold in the western hemisphere.
The Woman's Relief Carps will go to
| Cincinnati via Santa Fe's special
| through train which will leave here on
/ September 3. Round trip ticket from
| here costs only $3.50.