S38 Editorial J^oies. 



We have received from the Yorkshire Geological Society a circular 

 setting forth that the Society is anxious to develop the study of 

 Yorkshire rivers along the lines that have proved so fruitful in 

 America With their customary enterprise the Council have 

 formulated a comprehensive scheme, for which they desire to 

 enlist the aid of workers in all cognate sciences, whether members 

 of the Society or not. As a matter of fact the work was begun in 

 the Washburn valley last summer, and will be continued there, 

 but it is hoped to extend it to other rivers throughout the county. 

 The circular very wisely points out that a precise knowledge of 

 tectonic structure is of fundamental importance in such a study, 

 since this must affect the origin and evolution of the rivers ; hence 

 workers are invited in the first instance to record with precision 

 the dip of the rocks in their respective areas. This is not quite 

 so easy as it sounds at first, as all field-workers are well aware, 

 owing to landslips, surface-creep, current-bedding, and other 

 causes which need not be specified here. The importance of a 

 record of faults and dominant joints is also insisted on. Besides 

 these purely geological points, information is also desirable as to 

 records of rainfall and the heights attained by floods and their 

 frequency. Recent experiences in Lincolnshire have demonstrated 

 the geological potency of sudden floods. With regard to the actual 

 carrying out of the work, it is proposed, wherever possible, to form 

 local committees, and all those interested are invited to com- 

 municate with the Secretary, Mr. H. E. Wroot, Pollard Lane, 

 Bradford. 



The Government has now introduced into Parliament the 

 promised Bill for the establishment of a Ministry of Mines, and, 

 frankly, it is a very disappointing document. It is a good point, 

 in view of economy, that the Ministry is to be a Department of the 

 Board of Trade and not entirely new and independent, but beyond 

 this we find little to praise. The provisions of the Bill are almost 

 entirely concerned with coal-mining, and non-ferrous mining is 

 only once specifically mentioned. It is provided that the Minister 

 shall appoint a committee to advise him regarding coal, and that 

 he may appoint a similar one to deal with other mines and 

 quarries. We must hope that the metalliferous mining industry 

 will make its needs known with sufficient force in the proper 

 quarters, so that more consideration may be shown to an 

 important industry by the Act in its final shape. 



