The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-05
EMPIRE OF SAHARA
M, Jacques Lebaudy and His Scheme
Of Populating the
- - DESERT, -
How He Expects to Make the French
= .:colonists a Happy and Pros.
porous People. ~ :

Hamburg, Oct 5.-Since his arrival at
Hamburg, M. Jacques Lebaudy has out
Witted the inquisitive and made off in
glddy automobile. But history has still
some hold on him and he cannot hope
TO conceal his plans very long. An in
innate friend of that monarch has been
good enough to unfold them to us, on
the sole condition that we withhold his
name: M. Lebaudy will presently arrive
at Gl1on- sur Montreux (canton of Vaud
SW1tzerland), on his way from Basle rac-
companied by an orderly. He travels
strictly incognito, passing himself Off as an
English merchant. AS. soon as the cable
car sets this merchant down at the plat
form In front Of the Printemps hotel, Of
fetal communications, with the letter.
head Of the Empire of the Sahara, will
be scattered all over the world. Mean
while number Of newly appointed funo-
t1onaries will set to work in Paris and the
provinces. For one thing, they will re-
cru1t 500 families Of Breton and Corsi-
can farmer-folk, to serve as a nucleus
for the population Of the empire and to
country where few Europeans have ever
set foot.
The colonists will be promised better in
comes than those they enjoy in France;
besides. each one of them will have the
benefit of life insurance to the amount of
5000 francs, to which Is added further in
surance to the amount Of $500 francs FOR
every woman and 500 francs for every
child above years old. So the work OF
recruiting will go merrily forward An
immense stock of agricultural implements
will be loaded on board the English trans
port which is to bear the subjects Of the
Empire of the Sahara to their destina-
ton. AS soon as the new country is
reached each family will be allotted q
portable sheet iron house, which Is to be
provided by a Birmingham factory These
portable houses, lighted by celluloid win
dows are made each In two sections, sep
arated by light partition-one section
to serve as kitchen and dining-room, the
other as a bedroom. They look some-
thing like the lighthouses Of the Cornwall
beaches ----" '~sr -
The first Of January 1904, will begin an
epoch In the annals Of the empire. Great
rejoic1ngs will celebrate the Inaugural
ton of the empire Of the Sahara at
Troja. The emperor, escorted by a hum
dred grenadiers in stunning costumes
his "old guard will come out Of his
palace. which is built of clay in the Arab
fashion, with an inner court and terraces.
and will proclaim his designs for the
political and the economic managemen
OF the kigdom. All his subjects will re-
new the oaths Of absolute obedience
which they formerly made in Europe be-
tore the recruiting agents when they en-
listed as colonists. Then the emperor will
Join In the popular rejoicings.
The gala day ended. the Saharians will
enter upon their agricultural and CONNER
cial labors; for commerce and agriculture
arc to, furnish the sinews of empire. and
the destinies Of the new state are already
beginning to seem less ephemeral. An Of
fetal paper, to be edited, we are told by a.
young French Journalist, will publish the
laws, DEGREES, and imperial mandates by
which the country is to be governed -Four
secretaries Of state, with the rank Of vice.
roys, will have charge of the DEVELOPMENT
of commerce, industry, finance, public
works, and every sort (sic) Of transporta-
ton. A mud-built palace will be given
them for their lodgings and Offices
Every year new recruits will be sought
In French-speaking countries. In order to
establish new centers, of which the first
are named Lebaudyville, Maxville, sucre
Vile, etc. vigilant governors, directly re-
sponsibIe to the emperor, will preside over
the affairs Of these centers, which thew
have solemnly vowed to administer with
fatherly benevolence.
Until the year 1914, all subjects Of II.
M. Jacques l., above 20 years Of age
will be required to take part In the mill
tary manuvers,, forty days each year,