The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-05-17
TIE GASES OF MARS.

Interesting Possibilities Dependent Upon
al Alleged Discovery.
In Popular Astronomy, Percival Lo-
well Of the Lowell observatory, Arizona,
discusses the "oases" of Mars. He OBJ
served last summer that the canals slow
ly appeared in way to indicate that
they were seasonal and that round, dark
spots slowly developed after the canals
aud at their intersection. AS time passed
the spots deepened III color, leading to
the conclusion shat vegetation was con-
cerncd in the pheIDmeIen. The same
condition was noted in the canals them
solves, indicating that vegetation along
the banks caused them to be visible and
to appear double.
In nearly very case the spots We're cir
cular and averaged about l20 miles in
diameter. This circular form is an evi-
dence to IIr Lowell that the system is
artificial as he reasons that if the fer
ration wGs natural the oases would he
cOncave between the intersecting canals
instead of convex. This contention is
reasonable, and, taken in connection with
two canals intersect at a single oasis,
furnishes good argument in favor Of
the theory that the canal system is ar
tifcial His statement Of the case is cer-
tainly very ingenious, if it is not con
elusive. Ee says: "If one wero to draw
lines at haphazard ever the surface Of a
globe, he would find that, although
crossings Of two lines would occur
plentifully enough, crossings of nore
than two lines would occur practically
never Fesaw no less than nine canals
centering or intersecting at one circular
spot or oasis. In nearly all cases more
than two lines Of canal cross in one place
marked by spot. One can best demon
strate the difficulty of haphazard inter
section at one point Of more than two
lines by drawing lines at random on a
blank sheet Of paper. After the expert
ment has been tried the force Of Mr..
Lowell's reasoning will be evident 1t
is certainly the strongest presentation yet
made in favor Of the theory that tlre
canals are artificial.
The arrangement By which several
canals arc made to inte, scot at one point
would utilize to the best advantage the
water annually flowing from one pole
to the other over the desert Of the equa-
torial regions as the SHOWS about one
pole melt. There must bo time when
the flow Of water in the canals nearly
ceases. This rust be when summer ends
at one pole end winter is Just beginning
to give way to spring in the other. The
Seasons come and go so slowly that there
are no floods, but merely change in the
direction Of flow Of water from one pole
to the other acroas the equator. During
the opposition of Mars last season the
southern pee was presented to us, and
when first ob-orved the snow cap was of
large dimensions. 1t melted under the
heat of advancing summer, and as the
water flowed northward through the
canals vegetation revived, and the lines
and spots became visible in the telescope.
If the oJlervaticns of Mr.. Lowell are
accurate, he has gene long way toward
showing design in the canals and the
round srots ur cases. 1t will remain for
astronomers to test the accuracy of his
seeing, lcepiIl- i'll view the explanation
that hcs bccn advanced There is pos
s.bil;ty that Nj. Lowell, aided by other
obreryors, II. J demonstrate, at the next
| oDpcstt on tat Mars is inhabited -
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