The Minneapolis journal., 1906-11-04
Prof S. Morse Thinks They Are Great Agriculturists
Solving the Problem of Dying World-May Be Like
Men or Gigantic Ants ##*=% KS &.= 81
latest word of science about
Mars and it's probable inhabi-


Mars and it's probable inhabi-
tants has been uttered by Pro
fessor Edward S. Morse, curator of the
department Of Japanese pottery at the
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, says the
Boston Herald.
Professor Morse, while not an astron-
'omer by. profession, has made a special
study of Mars for many years. His
new book, sfMars and Its Mystery .
talns some astonishing revelations
about our next-door neighbor in the
solar system.
Professor Morse thinks the inhabi-
tants of Mars may raise tobacco extern
sively. The Martians may be even
greater smokers than the men of the
earth. How Professor Morse got this
idea, is best explained in his own
words:
cat certain times there has been OBJ
served in the equatorial region of Mars
a number of white spots, which have
greatly puzzled the student of Mars,
been, offered. That they are not clouds
is seen in the fact that they do not
move or drift. Furthermore, these
white spots are fixed features of the
region, as they appear in the same
places. ,..,...,- z+
'ttIt might Sc suggested that they
represent .snoW-capped elevations or
mountain peaks, but this is difficult to
belleve, as an examination Of the ter
minator of Mars reveals no evidences
of high elevations, These white spots
appear only in midsummer, which
would argue against their being snow
caps, as in midsummer they would GER
tainly melt and disappear. The time
Of their appearance coincides with the
time OF greatest equatorial heat.
white spots in Mars corresponds with
the period Of greatest evaporation, it
is conceivable that an intelligence in
Mars might utilize the same method
which has recently been adopted in
Connecticut and Porto :, Rico in the
raising of tobacco, namely, to protect
the fields with white cotton cloth.'
1t is the canals of Mars, however,
that furnish Professor Morse with the
strongest evidence Of life on the red
planet. On this point he quotes Pro-
fiessor Pcrcival Lowell of Boston, who
has made more extensive observations
OF the Martian canals than any other
astronomer. :. He says:
'What we see hints of the existence
OF beings who are in advance of, not
behind, us in the journey of life. . -.
Problems of a Dying World. .,
A peculiar interest is excited in these
superior beings because they have
grappled with the problems Of dying
world. They have learned how to ex-
ist on desert planet where water is
the scarcest and most precious thing in
existence: Their whole world is much
like the Sahara desert or the flat des-
ert plain Of our own Arizona.
Yet on a dried-up. world of this sort
they evidently have. built up and con
tlnue to maintain a civilization far in
advance of anything on the earth. This
Is indicated by the complex canal sys-
tenn that prevails all over their globe.
one OF their canals alone is over 5000
miles IN length, long enough to reach
from Boston to San Francisco. In
deed, canals on Mars seem to be as
numerous as railroads on the earth,
Professor Morse has made a drawing
showing how similar some parts Of orr
network of railroads are to the Martian
canal lines. The canals of Holland also
present a similarity. These illustra-
tions are set forth to show that such
gent beings rather than the haphazard
cracks or markings Of nature Profess
sor Morse sums up the argument in fa-
vor of the Martian canals being arti-
fetal in these Words:
The unnatural straightness of these
interlacing lines on Mars. many of
them following the arcs Of great cir
cies; their uniform width thrnout, their
always starting from definite areas, their
convergence to common centers, find
no parallel in natural phenomenal
Where these canals meet one another
are circular areas, Indicating great
oases, and probably large cities.
Professor Morse gained much of the
material for this. book by a visit to
the southwest. He spent five weeks at
Professor Lowell 8 observatory at Flag.
staff, Ariz. In the dry, steady. clear
air, 1000 feet above sea level, he
studied the surface of Mars thru
telescope: He saw the pale yellow disk
OF the planet gradually develop a net
work of dark markings. It was like
a Photographic plate, first blank and
then mysterlously taking on shades and
INES. till q world picture was presented.
Looking about him in that desert re-
gion, Professor Morse found an explain.
alton of the Martian mystery. -.
Explanation Of the Martian Mystery,
Let one stand on some peak of the
Verde mountains he said, sFnortheast
from Phoenix, Ariz., overlooking fbe
Gila river as it follows it's course across
the desert, and after the river is lost
to view he will notice that the foliage
along Its banks masks it's course.