Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
K [ N G. OF S A H A R A
JACQUES I IS REALLY BUILDING
UP AN EMPIRE.
Lebaudy of Paris is Said to Be Really
Doing Wonders in Desc
late Land.
London Cor. Pittsburg Gazette.

Jacques l, emperor of the Sahara, erst-
while known to fame as NJ. Lebaudy of
Paris. and the reputed possessor of far
more money than brains, is now commonly
regarded as a notwithstanding freak,
whose kingdom should be restricted to the
confines of lunatic asylum. That is the
way he is usually written up. But an Eng
lishman who recently has had abundant
opportunities for studying Lebaudy a close
range takes entirely different view of
him.
W. L. de S. Lennox is his name and he
has just returned from a years stay at
Troja, where the eccentric Frenchman has
established the capital of what he dreams
will some day be a mighty empire. Nor can
it be said that Mr.. LennoX has any reason
to be prejudiced In Lebaudy's favor. For
merly officer in the British volunteers,
he thought that he might be able to get
snug billet in the emperor's army. He
didn't get 1t because he says, he would
not forswear his English citizenship and
lated to make him an admirer of Jacques
l. Notwithstanding this he assured me
that his Saharan majesty is a much under
rated man. Instead OF being devoted to
mere idle show, pomp and vanity he said
that Lebaudy has proved himself an ener-
getic and capable administrator, who is
doing difficult work in an excellent fash
ion, Transforming barren waste into
productive region and introducing law and
order where brigandage was formerly the
favorite occupation of the people
Many Changes Are Wrought.
Jacques l." he said, has done won
ders IN a country that formerly produced
hardly anything and was wholly given up
to brigandage and poverty. Two years
ago. when be went to Sahara, the terri
tory over which he now rules was in
most primitive state Now law and order
have been established there, schools have
been opened, an embryonic city of SEQ
people has been brought into existence
many acres have been brought under Gull
tivation and yield sugar, cotton, rice and
tobacco, while stores, granar1es and other
improvements have been introduced. His
empire is self-supporting and we'll gov
erned He himself leads most industri-
GUS life and is the hardest wotker in his
kingdom His role is that of beneficent
autocrat He has installed Frenchmen at
the head of the various departments of
his government. They are practical men
and good organizers and have displayed re-
markable tact in dealing with the Arabs,
who are naturally a most intra ctable peo-
pie.
harem, but he does SO solely because, to
obtain respect for his authority, he finds
1t necessary to conform to the customs of
his people. There Is nothing of the liber-
tine about him. All the men in his employ
are given pay and rations sufficient to en-
able them to maintain three wives apiece,
WHICH, ny the way is OIiS OHt-HdiI tie
regulation Mohammedan matrimonial al
lowance. He wants no outside interfer-
ence and discourages the settlement of for
eigners until such time as he has more fully
developed tile commercial resources of the
country.
Caravans Pay Tribute.
There are now under the emperor's rule
about 600 square miles and a population
of something like 1900 persons. Through
hi n constantly nHSSin2
camel trains originating In Central Africa
These caravans chiefly go to Morocco, car
rying ivory, cereals, figs. dates, hides, gold,
etc. Before he appeared these caravans
were subject to constant depredations by
brigands. Jacques / expects tribute from
these caravans. it is true, but in return he
gives them military escort, watering privi-
leges at the wells and full protection.
THE imperial army is composed of 1000
men, each with camel and reserve
force of co., Every soldier is well
equipped with the most modern small arms
These men, as well as everybody in the en-
pire. can always count on plenty TO eat,
which is something they could never do |
before. 1t is self-nterest which binds
them to the new order of things. The ma
tional faith is Mohammedan. which Lee
baudy nomdnally processes. although he is |
really Catholic. Much of his power is /
exercised through the Mohammedan priests, !
and force Is never used except to keep the |
peace. He is making French the national |
language, using it in all official commune |
cations and teaching 1t in the schools.
He employs great deal of ceremonial \
pomp, and his durbars are grand affairs, I
but this is necessary to properly impress
the Arab mind with his Importance. Agri- |
culture is the foundation of Lebaudy's |
scheme of empire. He is now getting two |
crops of wheat each year from 1000 acres
of land. This is to be doubled this year. /
Up to the present time he has carried on !
his operations only in an experimental |
FORM These experiments have resulted SO |
favorably that he has decided to concen- |
trate his efforts wheat, sugar and cot |
ton, all under irrigation. there is plenty |
OF water. ! expect TO hear of his export |
Ing wheat inside of another year.
Is Shrewd Dealer.
when Lebaudy visits Europe his as
sumption of Imperial dignity is always ridi- /
culed but on these trips he is by no means
the fool some people take him for. and
drives some shrewd bargains in the matter
Of securing supplies for the development |
of his Kingdom. Troja, his capital, Is a |
''city OF tn" the buildings being alto |
gether OF corrugated iron, but he win soon /
commence its construction in a more per-
manent form. He has decided upon cur
rency system, and the coinage viii prob l
40 u