The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-11
THE PEOPLE OF MARS



One great difficulty that has always
stood in the way OF the acceptance OF the
theory that the canals are really ARTIFICIAL
in origin arises from their great dimen-
sions. Nearly all Of them are several hun
dreds and some OF them thousands OF
miles In length, while they vary in width
from thirty to fifty or sixty miles. This
difficulty vanishes, however, IL we accept
Mr.. Loweirs Interpretation of the canals.
According to him they are not really can
ais. but lines OF irrigation. Canals no
doubt exis; there. but they are TOO small
TO be separately visible. So the round
spots at their functions, somd Of which
previous observers had detected, are, In
Mr. Lowells opinion, not lakes OF water.
but irrigated Gases, the broad red-Ochre
expanses in the midst OF which they APP
pear. and which the canals intersect in
every direction, being dry land in the most
emphatic sense-in other words. deserts.
This statement gives the clew 10 Mr..
Lowelps theory OF Mars. His observa-
tons. and those OF his assistants. have
convinced him that the only considerable
body OF water on Mars Is the dark blue
band surrounding the polar cap. That
cap, he thinks. as others have done. rep
resents the winter accumulation of snow,
and contains, locked UP by frost, practi-
cally all the water on the planet. As the
polar snow begins to melt with the APP
preach OF spring. a circular sea forms
around its edge. This sea gradually drains
OF. and its waters are lost in the dusky
areas toward the equator. These areas
are not entirely desert, like the broad red
ochre region, but contain the germs and
roots OF vegetation, which quickens with
the annual access Of water from the melt
Ing polar SHOWS, and 50 the dusky ex-
panses visgbfy darken in hue. Then the
canals begin TO make their appearance,
first in the neighborhood OF the dark
areas. They are due, Mr.. Lowell thinks.
to the leading off OF the water through
channels OF irrigation trayersing the des-
e-ts. and the consequent growth OF vege-
tation upon long narrow belts. There Is
not enough water TO irrigate the desert
continents as a whole, and so the inhabi-
tants do the best they can by freshening
certain belts and spots once every Marian
year. Soon after the polar SHOWS have
completely disappeared. and the polar sea
has been entirely drained or, the areas OF
vegetation begin to fade, and the canals
and GASES vanish. to make their appear
ance again when the proper season re-
turns
Remembering the sequence OF Observed
phenomena on Mars as described aSove, 1t
viii be seen that this theory accounts very
Well for what Is seen At any rate, It Is
the most complete theory that has yet
been advanced.
In regard to the supposititious snhabi-
tants themselves. dwelling upon A half
dried-up world. and compelled TO husband
Its small remaining store of water with
such infinite pains. Mr.. Lowell has nothing
TO ofSer. He accepts the opinions, pre-
viously advanced by others. that the peo-
pie OF Mars NAV be OF gigantic stature. on
account OF the small force OF gravity
there, and therefore capable OF greater
physical feats than we can perform, and
that, their world being further along In
its geological history than ours Is. they
also may have attained a more advanced
state OF civilization and culture than yet
exists among the people Of the earth