Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-11-19
A PLANET LIKE OURS.


Like the Earth.
The first sight of Mars through m
observatory telescope is almost terrifv-
ing. even for person of good nerves.
II j, as if one saw the whole earth. with
its lev poles. as a solid globe. floating
overhead One distinguishes clearly
the dark blue seas and the brilliant
baaning, many hued dry land-and on
this the dry beds of a multitude OF
lakes. bays, gulfs, streams and canals,
these latter either parallel to each other
or crossing one another at right angles.
As Won continue to look YOU note the
variations of color and light shade and
further that the outlines on one edge of
the disc pass ont of sight. while on the
other the landscape expands; you see
that Mars revolves on its axis and the
ends of the axis are the frozen poles, as
with us. There is further resemblance
in the inclination of the axis, which pro-
yides that on this planet also the sea-
sons follow each other in regular sue
cnssion The ice crust at the poles
diminishes in summer, atfording demon
~ration not only that Mars is influenced
by the suns rays precisely as we are,
but also that the air and water are iden-
ical with ours. In fact, the meteorol-
ogy of Mars is now being reduced to a
science
Judging the two planets by superb
cial characteristics, however, one must
admit condition implying higher de-
gree of development in Mars The
continents of the earth, seen frs, a dis
tonce, present very torn az ,earance,
and occupy scarcely third ST its sur
face, while Mars is girdled OF both sides
of the equator by one continuous main
land, intersected by a network of canals
and rivers, the land occupying approxi-
mately three -fCurths of the whole area
of the planet and the water only one
'orrth, as consequence of which it may
De that its atmosphere is less clouded
and vapor laden than ours Peculiarly
Characteristic is the alrangementin in which
the geological nature of Mars has laid
ont the streams canals p.
All our strca"S, without exceptions,
ar" tortuous, and all increase in width
us they near the ocean. On Mars on
the contrary, the streams flow in straight
lines and are of uniform width from
source to mouth. These streams. from
20 to 100 kilometres apart, have their
banks so well defined as to suggest the
idea that they are subject to intelligent
regulation 1t is hardly possible to
conceive that two parallel canals, inter
+erted at right angles by third, as in
Orphir land can be the work of ele-
,nrntary forces of nature. The ques-
lion suggests itself again by the two
canals which flow from ocean to ocean
through the Island Hellas, crossing each
other at right angles in the center Not
less questionable is the origin of the
Great blue Lake of the Sun in the center
Of keppler land withits three retilinear
#oals connecting it with the ocean
Ever and ever the question occurs
Is it possible that the crust of planet
nose density is only seven -tcnths less
than that Of the earth can be so Welding
hat the streams at their origin encoun-
Ter no impeachment to their direct course
Or have they reaIl V been regulated by
the inhabitants of Mars an engineering
feat presenting, perhaps, few serious diff
ticulties?
But what most excites our astonish-
ment in connection with these canals is
that almost every one of them is double,
l. e, it has its parallel canal along side
of it, but visible at intervals only.
This has thoroughly rerplexed all ia
vestigators.' The earth has nothing an
alogous to aid us to a solution On this
account the return of Mars is looked to
with considerable interest. The i'm.
proNement in optical instruments within
the past decade may probably help to
solve the riddle, or what is perhaps still
more probable may present more rid
dies for solution. Wy estermann' No
mats hefte.