by Ernest L. Norman
The Martian cities are laid out like a wheel. The center hub is a very large circular structure which houses the various municipal and civic governmental departments. Underground is a very large atomic power plant for supplying the cities’ needs. The streets stretch away from the hub like spokes, and at regular intervals circular streets are intersected; this is similar to our national capital. The streets which radiate from the hub rise at a very gentle rate of inclination. The houses and other buildings are built on low elevations which rise like tiers.
Walking up one of these streets gives one the impression of walking on air, as the paving is of a springy plastic material in a very soft shade of green. Stopping to inspect some of the houses, I am nearly overwhelmed by their wondrous beauty, simplicity and charm. In every small, vacant space in the streets and grounds around the houses are growing plants. These are mostly fruits and vegetables. They are planted in metal troughs and other containers. The soil is a mixture of natural and artificial plant humus and moss. The houses and buildings are semi- prefabricated in a wide variety of plastic in pastel shades. The walls are formed of two sheets of thin plastic about two inches apart. After the walls are fastened together, a liquid foam like plastic material is injected or blown in between the walls. After this hardens, it gives the whole structure tremendous strength. This hardened plastic foam acts also as a good insulator.
There is no problem of heat or cold in a Martian city, with an abundance of atomic power. The whole city is air conditioned, free from dust and fumes, and is maintained at a constant temperature of about 68 degrees. Further comfort is assured the occupants of each home by its own air conditioner. Huge electronic pumps suck in and filter the thin outside air and raise the pressure to about seven pounds per square inch.
This is somewhat of the same way in which a modern earth airliner pressurizes the passenger cabins. It also strengthens the overhead dome structure by pushing out uniformly at all points simultaneously.
As the outside atmosphere is very rare and of a low oxygen content, the Martian cities are becoming less and less dependent on that source of air supply. Many thousands of years ago they learned how to obtain air from water by electrolysis. They also make a great effort to create great underground reservoirs near the ice caps to drain off and store any surplus surface water which also, along with the oxygen, has become increasingly rare through the centuries.
At the present time, scientists on Mars are learning to make air and water synthetically out of other elements. They have also explored every possible existing subterranean river or lake and have added much to the dwindling water supply by some important discoveries. It is estimated that, with careful conservation, they will have enough water for several thousand years, during which time other means will have been arrived at for solving this problem.
Mars is very rich in mineral deposits of which some of the radioactive variety are especially abundant. The planet has also, like the earth, a molten liquid core of some of the more dense elements. Scientists on Mars are tapping these deep fiery realms as an extra or added power supply, although the abundant radioactive elements are at present more than adequate to supply all the needs.
All buildings are supplied with electric power from the central power plant. The power is radiated over ultra high frequency beams which criss-cross the streets, and are relayed by smaller substations. On top of each building is a split ball-like antenna which intercepts these power beams, bringing power down onto a small secondary radiator which in turn radiates the power through the building, lighting the lights, operating the various motors, etc. These are, of course, all constructed very differently than the motors and electric lights on earth, which are large, clumsy and very inefficient by comparison.
Window glass is a polarized material which transmits light one way, from outside in, which gives privacy without the problem of shade and drapes. A simple metal folding shutter is sometimes drawn across the window to shut out the light when sleeping, etc. Furniture in the home is very simple and is contoured to the body and is made of metal and plastic. The houses are not overly furnished as are so many of earth homes, yet there is sufficient for comfort in a simple fashion. Rugs are a plastic foam-like material which is springy and resilient with no dusty nap. Various colors are used and slightly raised designs which give variety and charm to the lovely over-all appearance.
The kitchens would be a delight to the earth woman; all cooking is done in an oven which is built in a wall cabinet. The oven is operated on high frequencies which cook all foods in a matter of a very few minutes, or, in most cases only a few seconds. There is a dial-like indicator which is pre-set. The food to be cooked is placed in the oven, the door closed, a red light flashes, after a few seconds is turned off, and presto, the meal is cooked. I did not see any boiling or frying, in the conventional way. After dinner, the dishwashing is a very quick and simple process. The dishes are placed in a metal cabinet, a dial set, and after a few minutes all are clean and sparkling; no water is used. Instead, streams of electronic energy of some sort does the job. The dishes are made of a plastic-like material which is repellent to soil.
The bathroom is also quite different. The stool appears or disappears in the wall as needed. Disposal is efficiently taken care of by electrolysis. Very little water apparently is used. Bathing is done in a small booth where an atomized spray of pleasant smelling liquid is sprayed on the body and wiped off with a very absorbent towel. Here also, no water is used. There is also some kind of energy ray used which stimulates and leaves the body very refreshed. Teeth are cleaned with a sort of electronic brush which is a metal rod on a handle. Moving it around the teeth directs a flow of energy which cleans and stimulates the teeth and gums.
Very little of the normally expected house cleaning is done in a Martian home; all interior surfaces are dirt repellent and, as the air is normally very clean and inasmuch as there is no smoking, frying or similar soot producers, the homes are very clean and spotless.
Mounting a flight of stairs to the roof, we emerge onto a typical Martian garden. The roofs of these homes are flat and planted with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Each home grows quite a lot of the normal supply of foodstuff it consumes. They take great pride in these roof gardens and frequently engage in friendly competition in contests between neighbors in an attempt to raise the most beautiful displays of horticulture.
Returning to the street after my first glimpse into a Martian home, I became aware that there was something missing which was customarily found in a city.
Glancing up and down the street, it suddenly occurred to me! There were no stores, no shops, no neon signs or any of the familiar garishness one finds in our cities. My bewilderment caused Nur El to smile. Motioning me to follow, he walked over to where a low, circular platform stood, up a few inches from the street level. We stepped on this platform and almost immediately began a slow descent through a metal tube. On coming to rest, a door opened and we stepped out into what was another great surprise.
Now I understood why the streets slanted up and the lack of stores and commercial buildings, for here stretched out before me was a huge shopping center, which in some odd way reminded me of one of our annual state fairs. Up and down and around were streets and aisles with shops and booths displaying the many articles of clothing and food familiar to the Martian way of life. There was however, noticeable differences: little or no advertising was used, the shop owner sat or stood quietly by or worked on various articles he (or she) sold. A quaint system of barter and exchange is generally prevalent although some form of script, currency similar to a department store charge-a-plate, is also used. Martians are inherently honest; stealing is almost unknown. Consequently there is no need to accumulate more than is needed, for they do not have the fear of insecurity. There is no price haggling over various transactions. Some sections have mechanical automat-like dispensers in which a keyed charge-a-plate is inserted and withdrawn after the article is discharged.
Another curious feature of these market places are the escalator sidewalks; on several of the main thoroughfares were double tracks, one coming and one going, with a small bench-like seat to sit on. A person merely stepped on, sat down and was moved slowly up and down in front of the various stalls or shops. Everywhere I turned to look I saw happy, smiling faces with none of that taut, drawn look that is so prevalent in our cities. I was informed that there are several of these “centers”, which are regularly interspersed around the circumference of the cities and located in the space formed by the floor of the dome and the rural sections above. In between these market centers, much space is devoted to the cultivation of various crops, one of which is a grain very similar to millet. There is also a species of rice which grows with very little moisture. It seems that many of these plant crops have been evolved through a Burbank-like process to a point where they require the absolute minimum of water.
No heavy manufacturing is done in these cities, but there are several domes which are devoted to, and used almost exclusively for, this type of work. But time was slipping by, and reluctantly I followed my guide to another elevator and we ascended back to the main level.
As we walked along one of the streets I could not help but feel overawed by the beauty of all the things around me: the lovely homes and roof gardens, the landscaped parkways growing lush with fruits and flowers, the peace and quiet which was everywhere. I looked curiously at some of those who were passing by, although I do not believe they could see me in my astral state; at least if they did so, they gave no indication that they were being rudely stared at, and I assumed their smiles and greetings were meant for Nur El. I did not see any indication of the use of any cosmetics on the women’s faces. Their eyes were quite large and black with a distinct slant, the skin was wax-like and beautifully colored, lips red and well- shaped, which in all left nothing to be desired in any external adornment.
There are other things which were noticeable by their absence: there is no smoking, the use of tobacco being unheard of. Nur El chuckled when I asked about this, stating that such a practice was grown up thumb sucking and was a habit belonging only to those who were not completely weaned. The drinking of alcoholic beverages is also unknown, so there were none of the familiar taverns or liquor houses. No doubt many of the eartheans would be lost on Mars without their familiar daily and hourly inhalations and libations of pap and belly-wash.
The people of Mars are smaller than those on earth, only averaging about four feet six inches in height. They are somewhat Mongolian in appearance. The texture of the skin is very fine and soft, while the hair is usually straight, black, and quite fine. The men do not need to shave for they have eradicated electronically, the growth of hair from their faces when still young.
The Martians are a quiet peace-loving people. Their clothing is simple with long loose flowing lines, with nothing to bind them, in many brilliant colors including many shades we know not. All clothing is made of synthetic materials as no natural fibers are grown. Martians are much older in soul-evolution than the eartheans. They originally migrated in space craft to Mars from a dying planet more than a million years ago. They also came to this earth and started a colony but found it impractical to maintain. It was also explained by Nur El that this colony became our Chinese race through the evolution of time.
Excerpt from The Truth About Mars