Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-22
CURIOUS MOTIONS ABOUT MARS.
Hypothesis That Has No Logical Pro
celurs in Nature to sustain It.

Hypothesis That Has No Logical Pro-
ce1urs in Nature to sustain It.
The idea has recently been advanced
that the peculiar channels that form so
characteristic q feature OF the Marsian
surface has been caused by immense
missiles striking the face of the planet
taugentially which, it is al
irmpd, would account for the
Straightness of the lines. But 1t
is most difficult 10 conceive how much
an exact and precise tangentality OF
motion should be impaired TO the mis-
s!leS under consideration that they
should score such burrows, we will say
$50 miles wide aud some hundreds or
some thousands OF miles long, and evil
deutly OF prODOrtiOnate depth. And II
these huge projectiles could thus
plough their way for such a
distance and through such a
depth OF Marsian rock and
gravel, what must have been the Initial
velocity necessary TO this accomplish
ment. VINO will calculate the steel
pointed and case hardened character OF
The celestial ball that could thus tear
it's way hundreds of leagues through
whatever resistance that might be en-
countered? asks the Pittsburg Dispatch.
The entire conception is most prepoS-
ferrous, and it is ama2ing that minds
should be found capable Of advancing
an hypothesis that has not shadow OF
any logical procedure IN nature to sus-
tain iL.
The great fact bearing on the puzzling
lines on Mars, AID the one that STANDS
out in pre-emiHent significance, Is their
varying character. They appear and
disappear, yhey possess the peculiar ca
paCity of terminating" or doubling,
serpenIue outlines may become straight
or y.G6 versa. The Lake OF the Sun
ordinarily represents $4,000 square
mixes. an arear about the size OF France,
BIT on occasions this body OF alleged
water is cut into two perfectly distinct
parts, as il an immense mountain ridge
divided il. Dawes Kaiser and Lockye
made minute drawings Of Lake Phoenix
in 1852 and 1854. The lake was then
oval. the elougation extending east and
west. In 1877 the lake was circular.
Great changes took place, for In 1879
certain continents had entirely disap-
nesred, while others had taken their
places. and the physical outlines OF
land and water had undergone great
transformation. In 1879 the Chryso-
whoas Canal started from seventy-elght
degrees TO reunite at seveuty-two de-
glees. Two years previously 1t de-
sceUded vertically along eighty-six de-
grees And pages might be added in
Describing these peculiar metamor-
pboses TO account for which no terres-
trial phenomena that we know OF can
enable US to trace line of interpreta-
ton.
But one thing we may know, II we
know anything OF the conditions bear
ing on human development, and that Is,
IL the MarSian changes be physical, II
these alleged phenomena be not OF the
nature of appearances, miracles, shad-
ows, reflections or whatever, II they
actually represent changing contour
OF land aud water. of such suddenness
and on so immense scale, from any
cause or cases whatever, then, no
such DEVELOPMENT as the human repre-
sents is yet lreading those planetary
06IULShAtIGS. 4 NC Wi hAN hNSN N'''''
zation, though developed to the utmost
pinnacle, would soon dwindle into COM
mon sayagery amid an unstable physical
environment. What could be done on a
shifting aud changing surface? Who
would build more than mere temper
ary hut; who could have heart for any
ANYTHING? Our earth has had no changes
in 10000 years that would be percept-
ible from Mars, vet in-o what panic
we are thrown when little rocking oc-
ours, aud what would our civilization
be worth il sea and land, lakes and riv-
ers kept changing and intercbanging?
Yet men get serious about telephon-
ing TO Mars and getting responses when
there is not tho slenderest thread OF
evidence deducibe from any known
law OF authropoIogy that either man or
even any approximating fauna is there.
There can be no development OF the
animate into the higher forms so long
as great physical changes occur with
the frequency that is manifest 90 Mars,
II we are 10 accept astronomical au-
thority as to these changes. We have
relied so much on the lens, we have de-
yeloped our ocular observation beyond
our capacity OF mental Interpretation
until, like rustics, ne stare but do not
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