The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-01-16

DC Que 10 changes OF vegetation over
a vast area" and even the result OF
agricultural labor and irrigation upon
a large scale" AZ the sane time DO
emphasizes the paucity Of the lnforma-
ton on the subject. and observes. with
true scientific caution. that the wide
liberty OF superstition thus afforded
constitutes the gravost obstacle 10 ac-
QUESTION Of wcll-founded notions" No
definite proof Of the existence of either
vegetables or animal ne on Mars has
yet been afforded. although the pro-
sumption In favor OF the former %
probably strongec than that IN support
Of the latter.
Are the DARK Areas Negotiations
Professor William n. Pickering has
also advanced the theory that the dark
areas on Mars represent vegetation.
His most elective argument Is that
light reelected from them Is not "po-
lariEod." as Il should be II they are
water. except In the case OF the tempo
rary belt formed around the melting
polar cap. Il would seen 10 be OF the
utmost Importance. therefore. that
careful tests be- made With the po!arl-
scope by other skilled astronomers AZ
this opposition. TO verify or disproyo
Prof Pickcr.ngs statement. Porcival
Lowell. OF Boston. who erected special
observatory az Flagstaff. Arlz.. In 1894
Tor the study Of Mars. lmaginos that
the canals are belts Of vegetation lining
water courses that are much narrower
and consequently are themselves In
visible here. llc thus assumes that
Mars has inhabitants OF as much In
telligcnce aad engineering skin as men
possess; but he Is almost alone In con-
siderlng the case proven. II one will
observe the distinction between natural
growths. Ike forest and prairie on the
one hand. and. on the other. the arti-
nelal flower bed and market garden.
he viii nud q easy 90 accept the vCge-
atlon theory 10 a general way. witAou,
Eolng so far as the enthusiastic Dos
ton!en does.
Il ought TO b. pointed On, IN this con-
nocilon that Mr. Lowell speaks OF the
changes IN tint and size OF the dark
arCasand the development OF the canals
as being gradual; but the veteran
| Italian expert who "a everywhere re-
| gartcd the highest authority on this
/ subject describes some of these pho
. r1mona, and especially thc duplication
/ 1i tno canals and lakes. as occurring
F. rather suddenly. Oi course. jle abrupt
ness with which these ,hng ere lui
/ observed may te due to some cEtCui
io o.seur'Urs Loo iho Marian a,mo-
. ItUo and me Clfihs oau. which
. would i.lC f.r several days q gradual
/ change Iaa. With a rapid improve
/ mut In the conditions of seeing. tht
/ situation would he more distinctly and
. Unexpectedly revealed a further com-
. gar.e1n of notes as 90 thc raq.diiy with
/ watch those alterations occur o., ap-
. p3rcniy, greatly needed 10 nigh, as.
sist IN determining the nature o., the
dark patches and lines
The Doubling" phenomenon.
The fact tha, both canals and lakes
| ar LEVEL calls the latter "oasos'1 arc
sometimes doubled The duplicate lyinr
exactly parallel with and about sew
enty-avc or a hundred miles away from
the original. renders the theory o. con-
atruction by the inhabitants OF Mars
a SIN more dihieult one to accept Il
"a hard TO understand the motive for an
arrangement Then again, while u ID
conceivable that a system OF cross ca
nails and gates might account for the
time intervals between the appearance
Of one twin and the other, the seeming
ragldliy with which the latter develops,
often within twen,y-four hours, Il not
easils rcconoiled with what we have
observed In connection with terrestrial