The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-05
>Se,0ee TO SIGNAL MARS.
Pr0fcs0Or Wood offered Post At Pro.
posed Tcras observatory.

Tho fame of Prof. Robert w. Wood.
tho wsll-known physicist OF the Johns
Hopkins University. seems to have
spread to Texas. judging from the
number of kilograms which he receiv-
cd yesterday from Stamford, in West
ern Texas. asking him to assume
charge OF an observatory in those re-
sions. tho object Of which Is to signal
the people Of the planet Mars. Incl
dentally DR.. Wood suggested a plan
to reach the planet Mars.
DR.. Wood is at loss to account for
the reason Of this steady now Of telo-
grams from that quarter. AS far as
he can ascertain he says some one
In that section Of the county seems to
have been greatly struck with a re-
mark humorously made by Professor
Pickering. Of the Harvard University,
the other day to the effect that with
large mirror several miles long.
which would cost about SO, 900, 900, it
would be possible for the inhabitants
OF the earth to signal their brethren
on Mars.
The Texan, says DR.. Wood, must
have discovered that he has been con-
Quoting series Of experiments with
q mercurious mirror and suggested to
his fellow-citixens that Professor Wool
construct an observatory at Stamford.
for which the residents were to pledge
$4,000.
Speakeng Of the matter Professor
Wood said last night:
"As to the project Of attracting the
attention Of the Martians to the fact
that there are rational beings on the
earth. 1t seems to me that If there are
any who insist upon making us con-
spicuous in this way it would be better
to devise some simpler way than the
construction Of q mirror several miles
In diameter. A large balck spot upon
the white alkali plains could be
constructed at much less expense and
would be as easily perceived by the
Martians II they exist and have tele-
scopes as powerful as ours. 1t would
be as easy to wink signals with the
black spot as with a mirror Of equal
size. probably easier.
''The spot could be made in small
sections Of black cloth arranged
to roll up on long cylinders, exposing
the white ground underneath, the cy-
linders being operated simultaneously
by electric motors. am unable to
say how much four square miles Of
cloth would cost. You will have to
consult the dry goods houses older
and wiser than we are
II have never. and am not now CIV
Ing any attention at all to the problem
Of SIGNALING to Mars. My reply to re-
peated kilograms from Fort Worth,
Texas. asking II would consider the
question Of building large mercury
mirror in Western Texas. If funds were
provided, was as follows:
Experiments with the small 90
inch mercury mirror are still in pro-
gress. 1t would be a great mistake
to consider the construction of a larg-
er instrument until the smaller one is
perfected. Thank you for you offer of
assistance, which Is appreciated
Nothing was mentioned in any of
the kilograms about possible commun-
ication with Mars. and I was much
surprised TO hear that dispatch had
teen sent out saying that I had decid-
ell carry out their plans Of attempt
ing to establish communication with
another planet
II have never for moment believ-
ed that the mercury telescope would
play any spectacular part in the
science of astronomy. The expert
ments were taken up during the sum-
mer months to ascertain whether the
mechanical difficulties could be over
come. and turned out so much better
than I had any reason to expect that
am thinking over the advisability
of perhaps some day constructing a
larger instrument. possible or feet