The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-03
FLASH LIGHTS FOR MARS.
Ifehe People OF That Planet Can Read Good
Morse IL Ought TO Work.
from the Chicago Daily Tribune.l

Morse ~ OuEHt 10 "ofhs
from the Chicago Daily Tribunal
Probable the most intelligent suggestion
| yet thrown out for exchanging signals with
the inhabitants of the planet Mars. il any
such there be, is made by Mr.. f. Ellsworth
Carey. IL is that perfectly level area, say
at least five miles in diameter, not in the vi
cinity Of bills or mountains. be covered with
uniformly black coating of earthly sand OF
coal dust. This area Is to be covered with
gas-Iets or electric arcs. placing the illumi-
mating points about three feet apart That
would require some 100000 points OF In.
tense briliancy. visible TO the inha bitant OF
Mars with magnifying power Of 300 diane
tres when the earth was sufficiently far away
from conjunction TO be seen while the sun
was below the belt of twilight.
The plan is to so construct and connect
these signal lights that the turning OF a key
would instantly extinguish or light them all.
Then the illumination should be made 10 ap-
pear and disappear at regular intervals. Sup
pose at first the interval between the flashes
was three seconds and the flashes continued
five seconds. Then the intervals and dura-
ton of light should be changed, say 10 six,
twelve. eighteen. &c. seconds, and then
the series of intervals reversed. Mr.. Carey
argues that such signals would hardly be
Kept up long without attracting attention on
Mars, If its inhabitants be far advanced
in intelligence, development aud civilization
They must then conclude that the earth is
similarly inhabited. and that some of its peo-
pie had constructed flash light visible TO
the jewellers on Mars. IL also may be ex-
pected that they would arrive at the eonclu-
sion that such light was maintained as a sig
nal TO attract their attention. Further. it
may be supposed that in the latter case they
would make arrangements TO return the sig
oil
years might elapse before they could respond
in a manner we should understand.
This.is pretty theory. aud its author de-
serves credit for having been the first 10 show
the world how interplanetary communication
is possible But there still remains the ques-
ton. Is it practicable, For the present
at least. that must be answered With q de-
cided negative. IL is not likely that any man.
or association of mon. would undertake
the enormous expense involved in carry
ing out this scheme. seeing that there il
in IL no suspicion Of profit. and but pro-
blematical amount of glory. not TO be gained
till perhaps years after the death Of the in
vestor. If generation should ever arise on
this earth that loves wisdom more than
wealth it may find other uses for its money
than in trying TO bridge the gulf that sepa-
rates us from the other members Of the solar
system but till then it is idle 10 expect the
costly effort 10 be made. Still il will do no
anticipation of some such result 10 be
achieved by those who will come after them.
and there is another view of the case still
more enticing to those who are speculatiyely
inclined. Some Of the philosophers who have
studied the appearance of Mars think there
is reason TO suppose its inhabitants are
IN UGH further advan ced than ourselves
in the march of intellectual progress,
that planet having cooled down from the
original nebulous heat sooner than its larger
brother or sister. the earth. Hence it is not
absurd to suppose the inhabitants of Mars
already have been considering the problem
of intercommunication with other members
IF the solar system. and for aught We know
they may have been making such signals to
US for centuries past without our being aware
of the fact. If some of the lynx-eyed ones
who scan the objects in the sky through
selluric telescopes once see changes on the
surface of Mars which they fancy indicate
that signals are in progress. the case would
be radically altered. II might not then DO i'm
possible 10 find persons willing 10 stand the
immense cost Of setting up and conducting a
return telegraph apparatus. by means of
which we may acknowledge the salute and
raise ourselves in the estimation of our neigh
bOrs