The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-18
THE PLANET MARS AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

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The pyramids of Egypt or the hanging
gardens of Babylon are among the
colossal structures of man; but these,
compared to the stupendous canal sys-
tenn of Mars, if such it is, are like the
toy houses of children compared to the
lofty buildings of our modern cities
What engineering intellect could con-
ceiye of project so extensive and what
giant hands could perform a labor so
overwhelming? How these supposed
beings would smile at our Suez canal.
and the difficulties, as yet unconquered,
In our Panama canal.
While there is not much evidence as
yet, that these canals are the work of
Marian inhabitants, yet in some re-
SpectS at least the work is not so stu
pendous as 1T seems. Owing to the
smaller mass of Mars and it's lower
density, the superficial gravity of the
planet is only thirty eight hundredths,
or little more than one third of what
1t is on earth. This means that body
weighing 100 pounds on the earth
would weigh only thirty eight on Mars.
Here then may be some small explana-
ton of the giant work performed in the
digging of the canals. A laborer there
could dig nearly three times as much
soil or gravel in a given time as one on
earth; or, if he is in the canal he could
iihON IL ideally lttIS0 lllIIcS DIS HIGH.
And machines could do the same
things, assuming that the strength of
the man or machine is equal to what
We have here. For aught that we know
they may possess much greater
strength.
But the question will be seriously
asked, Could beings such as we know
live upon Mars? To this science can
give only a doubtful answer. At least
far from hnincr
could. The atmosphere there is less
than half as dense as ours, which would
not necessarily prohibit life if it has
the necessary constituents. There seem
! to be clouds and doubtless there is
waiery vapor SO necessary to life here.
Unless the polar caps are entirely diff
ferent from what they appear, there is
snow and ice, and likewise water and
land. There is doubtless too much land
and too little water, and therefore few
clouds and little rain; but extensive
irrigation seems to compensate TO" this.
The day is only a little Longer than
ours and the seasons Eely similar,
though nearly twice as long. The chief
trouble seems to be the in
tense cold which would be expected to
Prevail there, for since Mails is about
one and a half times as far fr>m the
sun as the earth is, the heat received
is only about four ninths as much.
This would mean to us too little heat
to support life; but we do not know
what means the planet may possess for
storing and retaining heat, or what
supplies of internal heat it may pos
sess, just as Jupiter and Sa-
turn are known to possess
vast stores of internal heat. The
freezing and thawing going on with
the changing seasons would seem to in
dictate that in some way the tempera-
ture is not far from our own; and
though this Is uncertain, yet, if true,
it answers the strongest objection to
the habitability of Mars. At least, we
may we'll say that of all the heavenly
bodies Mars is most like the earth and
therefore most likely to be peopled with
living beings.
What realm of thought and specu-
lation is opened up to us by the mere
superstition of another world peopled
with a kindred race, with kindred
spirits! How the heart expands with
emotions of interest, of sympathy and
of curiosity, as we think of that far
away race and conjecture as to their
physical, mental and spiritual posi-
bilities! 1t seems, too, that our own
rsouls must enlarge and expand as we
grasp the conception that this planet
and perhaps others, as well as our lit
stle sphere, are the instruments of
sublime purpose where mind and spirit
shall transact the dead cold matter
of space; that Mars is not simply one
of the lesser lights born merely to
shine as evening or morning star, but
is also the birthplace and the home of
a race of exalted beings, equal or SUI
perior to ourselves, and inferior only
to God ana angels.
So far then, science has not proven
the supposition to be a fact, but every
lofty and noble sentiment, every high
and grand conception of the universe
as realm of high possibilities, demand
that the limitless regions of space
should be fixed, not simply with silent,
shining orbs, but with real worlds,
whose physical resources give occupa
ton to Godlille minds, and whose life
and experience give development and
preparation to immortal souls.