on Mars would have become extinct centuries ago, when the last
remnants of its oceans and seas dried up and a planetary
irrigation system became necessary in order to utilize the frozen
Polar moisture.


CHAPTER VI.

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMODITIES

Barter and trade are unknown on Mars. The entire race of
Martians is cooperative, and the production of all necessities is
based on the needs of the Commonwealth.

Specialization in different branches of industrial activity is
centralized, as is the case of your Earth. That is, some
particular parts of the planet, owing to climatic and other
conditions, are better adapted for the production of some special
kind of raw material used in the manufacture of clothes or other
necessities of life, or the production of some particular
foodstuff. But in every case the incentive for industrial
activity is not material profit. On the contrary the real
incentive is compliance with the Father's will.

Transportation is effected by means of flying ships actuated by
the control of gravitational attraction. These vehicles of the
air, beside your crude affairs[1] are most perfect, and the
amount of freight carried is unlimited, for the reason that the
gravitational attraction of the cargo is nullified as well as
that of the ship. (A more extended explanation concerning this