Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Vieque

An island 13 miles east of Porto Rico; 21 miles long and 6 miles wide. Its land is very fertile and adapted to the cultivation of almost all the fruits and vegetables that grow in the West Indies. Cattle are raised and sugar cultivated. The town, Isabel Segunda, is on the north, and the port is unsafe in times of northerly wind, like all the anchorages on that side; the few ports on the south are better, the best being Punta Arenas. Not long ago there were two importing and exporting houses on the island of Vieque, but on account of the long period of drought and the high duties on foreignimported goods trade has decreased to local consumption only. All supplies are brought from San Juan, the majority being of American origin. The climate is fine and may be considered healthy; there have never been any contagious diseases. The district contains Culebra Island, Mosquito and Llave, Pueblo and Florida, Porto Real Abajo, Porto Real Arriba. Punta Arenas, Porto Ferro, and Porto Diablo. According to the census taken by the United States War Department in 1899, the total population of the district was 6,642.