The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-11

excellent results, and he hopes with
the larger instrument. in which there is
no loss of power. by increasing the size
OF the lens TO magnify the apparent size
OF the planets. and to bring them so
close that some actual facts as to their
surface conditions can be obtained.
Special Study of Mars.
Mr.. Gathman has made a special study
of Mars. Being the nearest planet TO
the earth and the one in which astron-
omers generally take great interest. It
has been the object OF his constant
scrutiny ever since he completed his
telescope. Mr.. Gattman believes Mars
is inhabited. and by a race of beings
superior to ourselves. He has written a
number of articles and stories upon the
subject, and one of the incentives to-
ward the building of the larger tele-
scope is to see and read what he thinks
are the signals the Marian inhabitants
have made TO the people of earth.
Mr.. Gathman is OF the opinion that
the inhabitants of Mars are far more
progressive than those OF the earth.
He believes that he has evidence
that they live in glass houses. In ex-
planning this he fancies that the planet
is older than the earth. He thinks
that coal, petroleum, and other forms
of fuel are consumed. and the inhabi-
tants are driven to utilize sunlight. Ac-
cordingly they have built immense glass
roofs over the valleys OF the planet, under
which they live, grow their vegetation
and survive with solar and electrical
heat. There IS no rain. he thinks, on
Mars. and the moisture is brought down
by an irrigation system from the poles
where there is ice and snow. What the
astronomers have called irrigation
bitches Mr.. Gathman thinks are the
glass roofs over the valleys where the
Martians utilize solar heat for growing
their crops. and perhaps for the manu-
facture of electricity.
The inventor says nobody knows alb
solutely anything about it. and he main
tains that his theory is as good as that
OF the astronomers, especially because
he has a better telescope, and has made
better observations than the astrono-
mers.
Made Telescope in. Chicago.
Mr. Gathman became interested in the
telescope several years ago when living
In Chicago. He read in some scientific
papers the difficulties met with in the
OF telescope lenses. These
papers showed him that II was easy 10
make small tense and difficult to make
a big one. The idea occurred TO him
that multiplicity Of small lenses would
accomplish the same object as a large
one. He made experiments and found
out that he was on the right track He
constructed the telescope shown in the
onstrate the truth OF his theory. It was
entirely successful.
The family. composed OF the father
and three sons, all mechanical engin-
GERS. came to Washington about four
years ago. The sons are employed by
the steel works at Bethlehem, Pa, and
the father works at his profession here
Mr.. Gathman is not crank OF any spe-
cies. He was born in Germany. studied
in the technical schools there, and Is
practical engineer, dealing constantly
with practical problems. He tackled the
telescope problem in practical way,
and solved it, and he has no more doubt
that the astronomers are coming to him
than that the sun will rise tomorrow
The inventor is making preparations to
build larger instrument which he is
sure will break down the prejudice ex-
listing in the minds Of the astronomers
and lead them to the use of the new and
better instrument