224 GEOLOGY AS AN ECONOMIC SCIENCE 



or bore-hole must be studied by those whose 

 knowledge of geological principles enables them 

 alone correctly to interpret the facts laid bare and 

 to render them of the greatest value for future 

 reference. Again, as the work is of a temporary 

 character the government department concerned 

 should have the right of inspection during the time 

 that the work is in progress. But the chief difficulty 

 at the moment is that the Geological Survey, a 

 part of whose duties consists in the collection and 

 registration of such details, could not undertake the 

 task of systematically examining and recording all 

 bore-holes without a considerably augmented staff. 

 The chief complaint likely to be made by the 

 individual would be, in his opinion, the premature 

 publication of details which he had collected at his 

 own expense for his own benefit ; but his objections 

 would probably be met by regarding such informa- 

 tion as he might supply as confidential for a 

 statutory period, or for a shorter period during 

 which he might be interested in the commercial 

 undertaking of which the bore-hole or excavation 

 formed a part. Whatever objections may be raised 

 and difficulties met with, it is quite certain that in 

 the future we cannot afford to disregard and leave 

 to chance the collection of the valuable geological 

 information furnished by bore-holes and similar 

 undertakings, and there is no question that steps 

 should be taken for the systematic preservation of 

 such records of national importance. 



