122 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES' COMMITTEE.
he has got the lines upon his map; but an impatient Government calls him
elsewhere, and he is only too willing to hand over his maps and the threads of his
ideas to the local investigator to work out. The further division of the strata,
the zonal collection of the fossils, the relations and origin of the igneous rocks,
and the fascinating problems relating to the origin of the landscape features, all
become for the first time possible with the completion of the 1-inch map.
" After the survey, new wells, borings, cuttings, quarries, and other sections
are opened up, and the Local Society can do excellent work either in the person
of the local geologist or, if there be no such person, by giving information, which
is always gratefully received and generally acted upon, to the office of the
Survey.
" As examples I may mention the examination of many new railways, pipe
lines, sewers, and other works which have been studied and reported upon locally
or from the Survey Office. Previous to the survey of Charnwood Forest nobody
knew that the Mountsorrel granite had been sculptured by desert wind-storms in
Triassic time. But suspecting that such would turn out to be the case, I asked
local observers to watch the excavations, with the result that in a few years the
necessary evidence was forthcoming."
* * *****
Then, the important subject of abysmal geology was given ?s
one in which the local observers could aid by reporting on all
well-borings made in their districts, and the Chairman
concluded:—
" The relations of geology and landscape can only be satisfactorily worked out
by the local observer, who knows the country in every aspect, and who has time
to visit and revisit. This line of enquiry may be expected to yield many new and
important results to local enquirers in the next few years.
" But the main geological function of the Local Societies is to keep a watchful
eye always open. Every new section brings some new information, some
alteration or confirmation of previous opinion, some chance for fresh investigation.
It is always better that the cream of such work should be skimmed by the local
observer if possible, but if he is non-existent it is the plain duty of the society to
call in help from the outside."
At the second Conference, on September 16th, many subjects
considered suitable for local societies to undertake were brought
forward, for the list of which the reader may be referred to the
official report. Mr. G. Coffey, as delegate from Section H
(Anthropology), brought before the Conference a letter referring
to the destruction which is going on on Dartmoor by removing
stones from certain ancient monuments for road repairs! This,
and Mr. Charles H. Read's paper, which is abstracted in another
place in the present part, gave rise to a discussion on the pro-
tection of ancient monuments, and the following recommendation
was passed on the motion of the Rev. J. O. Bevan:—