The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-08
What M. Menier is Doing on Anti
 coSti.

London Express.
 When M. Menier, the chocolate man, bought the island of Anticosti. in the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, Can ada was alarmed, fearing that it might be a malignant move on the part or France. The alarm is now allayed, ana only the remarkable circumstance or the sale of the island and the use to Whlch the new owner has put it remain in
 M Menier paid f25, ,O0O for the exclusive possession of Anticosti. The romance or the thing appealed to him, and when its two million acres were offered he scarce ly hesitated.
 marked the vendors. We can prove It from the time the island was granted to ono Joliett in 1927 by the King of France
 Why do you wish to sell it?'
 Because 1t is an elephant upon our hands, was the frank reply. 'l am the secretary of a company called the Ami costi Company, Limited The company bought the island in 1889 from the former owners, who had failed to make 1t pay and now we wish to get rid or It. The price is small.
 Anticosti was not uninhabited when Menier took possession. Here and there along the coast, and principally at the little harbor of Fox Bay. were dozen or more families that had earned preca- rious Livelihood at fishing for twenty odd years. ,, occupied by them, simply living there on the sufferarce of the previous owner Ip ana at a nominal rent. They contented them selves, says writer In the February number of Ainslie's Magazine, with fish ing, and made little effort to till the soil.
 When the purchase became known. t," appeared .n the press. One paper claim ed to have proof that Qualifications were being erected by night, and that a forinld- able battery of modern guns was about URGdnl had mysteriously appeared III the GuIl of St. Lawrence.
 There was, indeed series of earth works back of the town of English Bay, now called Bai Ste. Claire. The interior of these earthworks was filled with bar rels of flour and beef and other pro- visions.
 These are our fortifcations," smilingly exclaimed M Landrieu, the chief Of the Commercial Board of Anticosti, appoint ed by M. Menier. We fortfy ourselves thus against hunger Tn case our malh stores are destroyed:
 Notwithstanding dissension within and bitter racial accusations without, Menier calmly proceeded with his plans. Through his legal adviser in Quebec he went to law, and after a sensational trial the Fox Bay settlers were ordered to leave the
 The decision was followed by storm of protest from the press and part of the Canadian public: Sympathetic people sided with the Fox Bay settlers, and when the eviction was found unavoidable, a collection was taken up for them.
 Menier's plans for the island are broad. They include the building of towns, the construction of roads and railways the building of a deep sea port and the de- velopment of the natural resources of the island. ,.
 A fair start has been made. The old settlement of English Bay which & can- stitnted 2 few scattered fishermens huts. Is now the seat of authority on the island. A regular town has been laid out Wlth streets plaza, sanitary plumbing. scnool and all that goes to make up the mooerH community.
 It is an important part of Mcnier's plan to surround himself with thoroughly com petent men. The scheme Of admlnlstEa-