Signaling to Mars (Letter to Editor)

Buffalo, May 25, 1909.

To the Editors:

I have noticed in the press recently an announcement that a suggestion had been made that, with an expenditure of ten million dollars, communication could be established with the people of Mars.

As a matter of fact, this subject is not a joking matter at all, but a question of scientific research, and I am of the opinion that it can be done by solicitation, without any great expenditure of money, and without any individual assuming any financial obligation in carrying out the work.

It occurred to me several years ago that if the people of Mars are as far advanced in civilization as some scientists have reason to believe, that they are already studying the growth of our cities by noting their illumination at night, and that the easiest, cheapest and best way for us to communicate with them is to light up certain cities after midnight.

In the United States, for instance, we could pick out all the towns that fell on a state line — from which they would get the idea that we were one nation divided into many states.

Another plan would be to pick out such towns as would spell “United States” across our country from New York to San Francisco, or just “America.”

Then, if we were answered in some way, the different states could letter themselves, from which they would learn our whole alphabet.

In fact, a number of towns that are lighted by electricity could probably be found in one state in such number and proximity as to be chosen to form any capital letter of the alphabet.

An association of these lighting communities could thus elect to spell our alphabet, giving every letter five minutes and repeating the performance, say every Sunday night, from which they would learn that we observed the seventh day.

I think this idea should be studied and well considered, and that such an association of lighting communities working in conjunction with astronomers with powerful telescopes, could certainly give impetus to the idea and get something started in a practical way.

Samuel E. Hitt, M. E.
Buffalo, N. Y., June 1.