The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-10
OUR SISTER PLANET
STRANGE FACTS ABOUT MARS on
TANNED THE PAST YEAR.
Astonishing yerifcation Of schiapa-
rellfs Discoveries by Prof. Low
ell, at FaIstaR Observatory.
New York World.

servation of Mars which Prof PercivaI
Lowell is soon to make. But already suf-
hcient is known of his work and the con-
illusions he has reached to create even a
more profound sensation in the astronomical
world than did the original announcement of
SchiaparelH of his discovery of canals upon
thes planets surface.
The observation of Mars which Professor
Lowell has recently concluded were the most
thorough and exhaustive ever made. With
his assistants he confined himself excll-
sively to Mars during nearly the whole
period of its opposition this year.
The observatory where this work was ear
ried on is at Flagstaff, A. r. This spot
affords the very best facilities for observ-
ing the planet. So clear was the atmosphere
at Flagstaff that almost every night since
the beginning of June to the end of October
a full and unobstructed view of Mars was
had.
The planet was under observation at ev-
cry hour of the night, AMI as il was in
close opposition TO the earth the whole Of
its surface was mapped by The Flagstaff
astronomers again and again.
The instruments used hal been especially
selected for this planet. schiaparelli. VINO
has devoted nearly the whole of his life to
observation of Mars, announced quite re-
Gently that he had been most materially as
sisted in his work by correcting the lenses
of his instruments for the red rays of Mars.
He even went so far as to have lenses
made with chemical properties which should
carry out this theory of light The same
was done by Professor Lowell before he
began the work of this simmer. His teie
scopes were Mars telescopes and were not
suitable for general astronomical work.
The result of this work is ID confirm the
lions and to add to the strange mystery
about what is going on upon the planet.
The facts collected by Professor Lowell bear
directly upon the question whether or not
Mars is inhabited by highly civilized
of men.
Mars is uninhabited planet, almost de-
stroys such a theory. 1t buttresses in ev-
cry direction with the strongest proofs the
theory that Mars shows and bears upon its
surface evidences of Herculean labors arti-
iicially altering its topography and affecting
l@its tides.
Engineering schemes of colossal magni-
tude have been plainly seen at Flagstaff.
series of canals more elaborate than was
ever dreamed of by Schiaparelli has been
discovered. Mr.. Lowell says that "the mere
aspect of these canals is enough to cause
ali such theories (glaciation assures and
surface cracks) to die an instant and natural
DEATH.
number and character have astounded him,
artificial. He says that they cannot be
accounted for by any sort of natural phe-
phase of world building, phase of planet
making that would produce such appear
anceS
ACCOMPLISHMENT IN EUROPE.
The facts announced by Mr.. Lowell have
created profound establishment in Europe
Here is what Nature Englands great sci
entifc weekly says, after reviewing Mr.
LoweIrs work:
Most suggestive of all Marian phenom-
era are the canals. Were they more gen.
orally observable the world would have been
spared much skepticism and more theory.
They may, of course, not be artificial but
observations made at the Lowell observa-
tory inulcate that they For 1t Is one
thing to see two or three canals and quite
another to have the planets surface mapped
with them upon most elaborate system
"In the first place, they were, at the sea-
son of writing. blush green, of the same
color as the seas into which the longer ones
all eventually debouch. In the next place.
they are almost without exception geodet-
ically straight supernaturally So and this
in spite of their leading in every possible
Then they are of apparently nearly uni
form width throughout their length. What
they are is another matter
''Mr Lowell thinks, however, that the
mere aspect is enough to cause all theories
about glaciation assures surface cracks
to die an instant and natural death.
is most suggestively impressive, continues
this scientific journal They have every
definite and highly economic plan. They cut
UP the surface of the planet INTO a network
OF triangles instantly suggestive of design.
What is more, at each of the functions
there is apparently dark spot. This fea-
ture seems to be invarlable, as on closer
to have one. The larger of these appear
on Schiaparellfs chart as lakes. But there
would seem to be small infinity of smaller
Mars has been found to be unlike the
earth, in that it has no big mountain
an orange. The irregularities in its surface
are very slight. At the same time there is
and water seems to flow all over It's surface
in shallow seas, somewhere only few feet
deep. - -
TO appear and disappear on Mars. The
ground under the sea has been seen, show
The melting of the polar caps has been OBJ
served with the advance OF summer, and
| what looked like fields have changed color,
In short, Mars, It has been found, is like
Holland. Its inha bitants appear to have
a measure of protection against encroach-
ing waters which threaten an invasion
when summers heat meits the polar Ice and
snow.
traordnary alterations IN the planets sur
he has seen, using the names of Marian
seas and continents accepted by astrono--
mers and he includes in the summary of
his his york many Of the observations made by
| MIR. M. A. Douglass at the same observa-
tory. -. ,,r-r,,,-
A noteworthy feature of Mr.. Lowelrs re-
mort is the large area occupied by the dark
| regions of Mars, while those singular, tilted
peninsulas that are so generally represent
ed connecting the continents with the ISL
| ands of the south are conspicuous by their
| absence. One continuous belt of blush green
| stretches unbroken from the Hourglass sea
| to the columns of Hercules.
Hesperia has reappeared, and it has done
| this in just the way to show it as land dry
| ing off by sinking of the general water
level simultaneously the region formerly
| occupied by the Polar sea and the region
| - the north of it, from having been blue
| has now become for the most part reddish
Wbat may be the condition of these
| seemingly amphibious lands, whether they
| he marsh chiefly water at one time and
! drv land at another, or whether their dark
| color he due to vegetation which sprouted
,,ndar The action of the water then died
| waen 1t withdrew, is a mooted point. Mr.
| rnyells opinion is that 1t is hall and half:
! tSat the tranference of the water is chief