192 Correspondence — C. Carus-Wilson — J. W. Evans. 



THE CHINES AND CLIFFS OF BOURNEMOUTH. 



Sir, — I believe that Mr. Bury is correct in assuming that I am 

 responsible for the statement regarding the general increase in 

 the steepness of the Bournemouth cliSs. It was made in a lecture 

 on " The Bournemouth Cliffs " delivered at Bournemouth in the 

 spring of 1912. The matter was also discussed at the Geological 

 Society after the reading of Mr. Bury's paper on January 27, 1916. 



As I have not visited Bournemouth since 1912 I am unable to 

 refer to the appearance of the cliffs at the present time, but in 1912 

 the alteration in the general angle of face-slope was unmistakable, 

 and, in fact, was noticed by several local observers, and sub- 

 sequently corroborated by the comparison of numerous photographs 

 taken between 1887, when my systematic observations began, and 

 1912. 



Since the UnderclifE Drive was constructed there has been a 

 general lowering of the beach westwards, and hence a more rapid 

 removal of cliff talus from the base through marine erosion and 

 transport, '"While, at the same time, there has been no proportionate 

 increase in the rate of atmospheric erosion upon the cliff -face. 

 Hence the general angle of slope is no longer approximately 

 35 degrees, as was formerly the case. I predicted these changes 

 when giving evidence at the Local Government Board Inquiry held 

 at Bournemouth in 1906, and many years before that in the local 

 papers. 



It has always seemed to me that an important factor in determining 

 the width and depth of a chine in the making is the bed of clay, 

 or ferruginous sandstone, so frequently present at varying depths 

 below the surface. A stream cutting its way through the softer 

 sandrock ceases to erode its bed with the same rapidity when reaching 

 a stratum of clay or sandstone below, while the widening of the 

 chine by atmospheric agencies continues to progress at the same rate. 



C. Carus-Wilson. 



February 12, 1920. 



INCOME-TAX. 



Sir, — A committee has been formed to support the claim that 

 expenses necessarily incurred by scientific men should be allowed 

 as a charge against income in arriving at their assessment for income- 

 tax. This is at present by no means always the case where the 

 income is a fixed salary from a Government Department or Public 

 Institution. As the whole question of the mode of imposition is now 

 under revision, it is proposed to present a memorial to the Treasury 

 on the subject, and it is hoped that it will be supported as widely 

 as possible. 



All communications on the subject should be addressed to Major 

 A. G. Church, D.S.O., M.C., B.Sc, Secretary of the National Union 

 of Scientific Workers, 19 Tothill Street, Westminster. 



John W. Evans 



