West Indies
west in'dez, an archipelago between North and South America . The islands extend in a long curve from a point midway between Yucatan and Florida to a point near the South American mainland. They inclose the Caribbean Sea , separating it from the Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic. When first reached by Columbus they were supposed to be outlying islands of southeastern Asia. As they were reached by sailing westward they were called the West Indies and their inhabitants were called Indians. The climate is tropical. The chief products are sugar, tobacco, and coffee. From June to October the entire region is subject to sweeping hurricanes. See articles on CUBA; HAITI; PORTO RICO ; JAMAICA; BAHAMAS; CARIBBEAN, etc.
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West Indies
DANISH. See VIR- GIN ISLAND.
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West Indies (ANTILLES an extensive)
or the ANTILLES, an extensive archipelago lying between North and South America, stretching from Florida to the shores of Venezuela. It is divided into the Bahamas, the group stretching from near the coast of Florida in a S. E. direction; the Greater Antilles, comprising the four largest islands of Porto Rico, and the group, Cuba, Haiti, iti, Jamaica; and the Lesser Antilles, stretching like a great bow, with its convexity toward the E., from Porto Rico to Trinidad, near the coast of Venezuela. Almost the whole archipelago lies within The total area does not the torrid zone. exceed 95,000 square miles, of which the Greater Antilles occupy nearly 83,000 square miles. The climate is extreme-
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West Indies (DANISH ly hot and the islands)
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) DANISH ly hot, and the islands abound in tropical productions, as sugar, cotton, coffee, cacao, tobacco, maize, etc.; oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, citrous pineapples, manioc, yams, potatoes, etc. Except Cuba, Haiti (in which there are two republics); Porto Rico and other islands acquired by the United States from Spain, Virgin Islands acquired by the United States from Denmark, and a few islands off the coast of South America, the West Indian Islands are in the possession of European powers. The chief British possessions are: Jamaica, Barbadoes, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Antigua, St. Kitt's, Dominica, Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas; Dutch St. Eustatius, Saba, St. Martin (partly French), Bonaire or Buen Ayre, Curaçao, and Oruba or Aruba; and French, Martinique, Deseada, Guade loupe, Marie Galante, St. Martin (partly Dutch), St. Bartholomew, and Les Saintes. Two-thirds of the inhabitants are negroes. Total pop. about 6,000,000.
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West New York
a town of New Jersey, in Hudson co. It is on the Hudson very, , river and is connected with New York City by ferry at 42d st. Its industries include the manufacture of silk, rubber goods, cottonseed oil, textiles, sugar, and powder. Pop. (1910) 13,560; (1920) 29,926.
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West Orange
a town of New Jersey, in Essex co., on the Erie railroad. It is beautifully situated at the base of Orange Mountains, is an important manufacturing center, and conof the Edison Comtains the laboratories pany. There are two public ic parks and many handsome residences. Pop. (1910) 10,980; (1920) 15,573.
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West Palm Beach
a part of the city of Palm Beach, Fla. Pop. (1910) 1,743; (1920) 8,659.
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West Park
a city of Ohio, in Cuyahoga co., on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis railroads. It is a residential suburb of Cleveland. Pop. (1910) 3,179; (1920) 8,581.
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West Springfield
a town which includes several villages, in Massachusetts, in Hampden co., on the Connecticut river and on the Boston and Albany railroad. It is the center of an important farming and market gardening region, and has manufactures of paper and cigars. There are many interesting old houses, a high school building, and a public library. Pop. (1910) 9,225; (1920) 13,443.
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West Tampa
a city of Florida, in Hillsboro co., adjoining Tampa. It is one of the most important cigar manufacturing centers of the United States. Pop. (1910) 8,258; (1920) 8,463.
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West Virginia University
a coeducational non-sectarian institution in Morgantown, W. Va.; founded in 1867; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 123; students, 1,609. President F. B. Trotter, LL. D.
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West, Benjamin
Benjamin (1738-1820), a noted American painter. He was a Quaker boy of Pennsylvania. He was instructed by a Philadephia artist and set up a studio for himself in that city. He went to London in 1763. He visited the famous galleries of Rome, Florence, and Venice. George III gave him orders for a number of pictures and in 1772 employed him as historical painter to the king. In 1790 West was appointed surveyor of the royal gallery. West's most celebrated painting is the Death of General Wolfe. In this great scene he had the courage to depart from long established custom. He dressed his figures in their usual clothing, instead of draping them with classical robes as had been the rule for centuries. The picture made a great hit. An engraving by a celebrated artist by the name of Woollett had a large sale also, the greatest hitherto known. West painted a series of historical pictures for Windsor Castle and a second series of religious subjects for King George's Chapel there. He took a prominent part in the organization of the Royal Academy. He and Sir Joshua Reynolds were fast friends. On the death of Reynolds in 1792 West was made president. West's remains were placed in St. Paul's.
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Westbrook
a city of Maine, in Cumberland co. It is on the Boston and Maine and the Maine Central railroads. Its industries include the manufacture of paper, brick, and silk. Pop. (1910) 8,281; (1920) 9,453.
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Westerly
a city in Washington co., R. I.; on the Pawtucket river, and on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroad; 6 miles N. E. of Stonington. It contains numerous churches, hotels, a high school, public library, Soldiers' Memorial Building, street railroads, electric lights, National and savings banks, and daily and weekly newspapers. Westerly is widely known on account of its extensive and excellent granite quarries. It has manufactories of flannel, cotton and woolen goods, and printing presses. Pop. (1910) 8,696; (1920) 9,952.
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