In some instances the reservoirs are
established between parallel canals; but in every case smaller
canals, or laterals, always intersect at these points.
Many of the canals on Mars are double, as they appear to your
astronomers. These double waterways parallel each other at a
distance of about 75 miles. The reason for this is that as the
Martian population is absolutely dependent upon the Polar waters
to irrigate their crops, any accident to a canal, such as a land-
slide stopping the regular flow of water or the breaking of a
lock or gate, would mean a very serious calamity to a great
number of people. And for that reason, soon after the main
canals were constructed, second and parallel waterways were made
for the purpose of guaranteeing an uninterrupted flow of water
from the Poles to the Equatorial regions. The result of this was
that on many occasions the foresight of the Martian engineers who
had the water supply of the planet in charge, saved immense areas
from drought.
The rainfall on Mars is almost nil and the immense population
(eight times larger than that of your Earth) is entirely
dependent on the water supply from the melting Polar caps. Water
on Mars is a most precious fluid and there is none to waste.
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