Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18
FLASH LIGHTS FOR MARS.

II the People Of That Planet Can Read Good
Morse It Ought TO Work.
From the Chicago Daily Tribune.
Probably the most intelligent suggestion vet
thrown out for exchanging signals with the
inhabitants Of the planet Mars, II any such
there be, Is made by Mr.. E. Ellsworth Carey.
1t is that perfectly level area, say at least ave
miles in diameter not in the vicinity of hills or
mountains, be covered with q uniformly black
coating Of earthly sand or coal dust. This
area 10 to be covered with gas Jets or electric
arcs, placing the Illuminating points about
three feet apart. That would require some
100000 points Of intense brilliancy, visible TO
the inhabitants of Mars with a magnifyinz
power Of 300 diameters when the earth was suf-
ncientiy far away from conjunction to be seen
while tho sun was below the belt Of twilight
The plan is to SO construct and connect these
signal lights that the turning Of . key would
instantly sxtinguish or light them ali. Then
the illumination should be made to appear and
disappear at regular intervals. Suppose at
first the interval between the flashes was three
seconds and the flashes continued five seconds.
be changed, say to six, twelve, eighteen, &C.,
seconds, and then the series Of intervals re-
versed: Mr.. Carey argues that such signals
would hardly be kept up long without attract
ing attention on Mars. il its inhabitants be far
advanced in intelligence, developments and civil
lization. They must then conclude that the
earth is similarly inhabited and that some of
its people had constructed Hash light visible
to the jewellers on Mars. 1t also may be ex-
pected that they would arrive at the conclusion
that such light was maintained az q signal 10
attract their attention. Further, it may be
supposed that in the latter case they would
make arrangements to return the signal, il
possible, though some, perhaps many, years
might elapse before they could respond in
manner we should understand.
This ia pretty theory and its author deserves
credit for having been the first to show the
world how lnterplanetary communication il
possible. But there still remains the question.
is it practicable2 For the present. at least, that
must be answered with . decided negative. II
Is not likely that any man or association of
men would undertake the enormous expense
involved in carrying out this scheme, seeing
that there is In 1t no suspicion Of profit and but
aproblematical amount of glory. not to be
gained till perhaps years after the death of the
investor. II Q 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 separates us
from the other members Of the solar system
but till then it s idle to expect the costly effort
to be made. Still, it will do no harm for the
enthusiastic ones to revel in anticipation of
some such result to be achieved BY those
VINO viii come after them, and there il another
view of the case still more enticing to those
who are speculatively inclined. Some Of the
philosophers who have studied the appearance
OF Mars think there is reason to suppose its
inhabitants are much further advanced than
ourselves in the march of intellectual progress.
that planet having cooled down from the origi-
nal nebulous heat sooner than its larger brother
or sister, the earth. Hence it il not absurd 70
suppose the inhabitants of Mars already have
been considering the problem of intercommuni-
cation with other members Of 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. II some
OF the lynx-eyed ones who scan the objects in
the sky through telIurio telescopes once see
changes on the surface Of Mars which thew
fancy indicate that signals are in progress the
case would be radically altered. It might not
then be impossible TO find persons willing TO
stand the immense cost Of setting up and con-
Quoting return telegraph apparatus, by means
OF which we may acknowledge the salute and
raise ourselves in the estimation Of our neigh
bors.