The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-04-21

planets they may be far in advance
Of mankind in knowledge and attain
ments; as far in advance of mankind
as mankind is in advance of the
lower orders Of animals; or, they may
occupy an intellectual level far below
that of humanity. And it must BIZ
confessed that it is hardly probable
that just the proper conditions exist
in any planet which will render com
munication Herewith possible, 1t is
conceivable that any planet may be
inhabited, but it is hardly conceiv
able that the inhabitants thereof are
in position to assist in any scheme
for inter-planetary communication
which may be inaugurated.
But, conceded that one or more OF
the neighboring worlds are inhabited
by beings capable of assisting in
such a plan, is there any way by
which such communication may be
accomplished? Five modes will be
suggested, which are here given in
their order of practicability:
l. Signals.
2. Projectiles.
g. Space navigation.
4. Etheric messages.
5. Occult agencies.
The last method mentioned relates
to agencies not yet generally accepted
or admitted; at least not understood,
and consequently will not be here
considered.
The fourth mode, etheric mes
sages, also concerns forces and agen-
cies not clearly within the present
domain Of science, and it can there
fore be passed by. Space naviga-
tion is possible, but not practical in
the present limited state Of human
knowledge; yet this is matter
which is Legitimate subject for dis
cussion, and some day it will COM
mand the attention of Investigators.
But there is nothing to prevent
proiectile from being thrown to the
moor, Or to planet, or to the sun.
1'f,3 question is not so much, how
can this be done? but, what would
be accomplished by so doing? Sup
lose a projectile ware thrown to
Mars; how would the MARSHES know
where it came from? What form of
message could be sent which would,
convey any idea to them? Enclosed
in the projectile could be tablet on
whicl, might be engraved arepresen-
tation of the solar system; between
the ohie 3 representing the earth
and Mars could be drawn a dotted
line, with the projectile pictured, in
dicating that It was sent from the
earth to Mars Such projectile
might be consumed in passing
through the atmosphere; when it
reached its destination it might fall
into an ocean or swamp, or the good
people might not care to dig it out
of the ground. Should the missive
escape these dangers, the MARSHES
might be able to- understand that
the earth was inhabited, and
that we sent the projectile as our
visiting card. It is hardly possible
that this method of carrying news to
the other planets will be adopted,
but it may interest some to know
how projectile could be sent to the
moon. Means exist by which the
following data may be determined:
The initial velocity necessary to
carry projectile to the moon; mini
mum weight of such projectile;
amount of explosives required to
produce required velocity; length
and caliber of instrument required,
etc. The "canon" for moon practice
would be made on a rather novel
plan. A shaft would be sunk in the
earth, exactly vertical, and of such
depth and diameter as the conditions
Of the problem required.
This shaft would be lined with
masonry, and cased with steel
tubing. At the lower end, another
shaft would open horizontally and
connect with immense excavations
large enough to hold the required
amount of explosives. After the ex-
cavations had been charged and the
gigantic projectile lowered into
place, then, at the calculated time,
the switch would be turned, and a
new heavenly body would launch
into space. If the projectile con-
tanned an explosive filling, it would
create disturbance when it struck
the moon. Should the results of
the explosion extend over an
area 800 #. square, the observer at
Mount Hamilton could see the spot
struck, and if the bombardment con
tinued the map of the moon would
require alterations to show the latest
bullet holes.
Messages by means of visible sig
nails will now be considered. How
could a signal be arranged that
would be visible to distant observer,
and how would that observer know
thBt it was operated by intelligent
beings? Could message be sent to
distant planet that would convey
any intelligence? One method by
which signal could be operated is
as follows: Cover a perfectly Level
area, not in the vicinity of hills OF
mountains, with a uniformly black
covering, either earthly sand or Goa
dust, etc. Suppose this area were
five miles square; suppose it were
100 miles square; the probability
that the experiment will succeed in
creases il a wonderful degree as the
area described increases. The black
ened area is then to be covered t.