Evening star., 1901-12-14

raise sugar cane and yams and make rum
and eat crabs in blissful ignorance Of the
fact that they are soon to be the victims OF
the envy of our own four hundred.
The coast and geOdetic survey has dis
covered Nieques, and after deliberate and
scientific scrutiny of the place. has pro-
ceeded to make the first authentic and
official map of the island ever created. With
3 the map goes a report telling what impress
sions Mr. Stehman FOrney got of the island
during his stay there as the head of the
survey party.
The island of Vieques is twenty-one miles
long, he says, and four and a half miles
wide al the brOadest part, with an average
width of three miles. 1t has siXty-nine
miles of shore line. The shore land is COM
prised Of high bluffs and beautiful sand
beaches, and upon the latter safe and COM
Portable boat landings can be made during
most Of the year. From November to June
the prevailing winds are from the north
east. During this time boat landings can
be made on the south coast and west end
of the island and at several places IN the
north shore. Puerto MOSQUITO on the north
IS a land locked boat harbor but very
shallow at the entrance. Puerto Ferro IS a
snug harbOr for light draft craft, but
the entrance IS narrow. Some years ago
vessels loaded at Ferro with sugar and
rum for New York and Boston. Last spring
q large three-maSted schooner struck in
coming in through the entrance, sprung a
leak and sank when we'll in the harbor. Her
hull and mastS are still in sight. Since
then this port has been abandoned and
Port Real is the shipping port for the Es-
pranza and Campo Silo mills.
Appearance of the Island.
\ wen-defined ridge extends the entire
length of the islands from east to west,
with isolated hills and peaks, ranging in
height from 137 meters at the east end to
29J meters on the extreme southwestern
portion of the island. The hills on the
northern coast rise abruptly from the shore
ON the main ridge this formation is also
noted. the south slope being gentle to the
south shore. inJersp sperSed with fertile val
the island is covered with hardwood tim
Der and mdHgrOye brush Hardwood timber
is also present on other sections Of the
Island All of the uncultiVated land is COW
cred with a heavy growth of rich, nutri-
cIGus wild grass, sufficient to furnish excel
lent grazing for about 12OOO head of cattle
and 1000 horses. The cattle are large and
Of a good breed. producing very tender
beef. The horses also are larger than those
Uf Porto Rico
Approaching Nieques from the sea It has
the appearance Of q long. low island, with
one prominent peak on the extreme eastern
end. which gives il the appearance of a
separate island. On the western end two
peaks are seen.
The island practically belongs TO six per-
sons, three Spaulards. two Frenchmen and
Dane. With the exception of two. they
are exclusively engaged in the growing of
sugar cane and the manufacture of sugar
and rum The sugar lands of Vieques are
extremely rich and productive. The cane
Is renewed every seven years. and there is
one inStanCe-a small tract on one of the
IlantatIonS-wheTet they still cut cane from
roots thirty years old The mills are equip
ped with ancient and crude machinery