188 Reports and Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 



of the core, I am convinced that its study by zoologists, botanists, and chemists will 

 result in new information being obtained concerning the origin of coral-reefs — 

 information which will prove of inestimable value to the geologist. 



The President then proceeded to read his Anniversary Address, 

 in which he fii'st gave Obituary Notices of several Foreign Members, 

 Foreign Correspondents, and Fellows deceased since the last Annual 

 Meeting, including W. Dames (elected F.M. in 1895), C. W. von 

 Giimbel (F.M. in 1877), James Hall (F.M. in 1848), J. Marcou 

 (F.M. in 1879), Fr. von Sandberger (F.M. in 1875), A. Briart (F.C. 

 in 1884), W. G. Atherstone (elected a Fellow in 1864), M. Attwood 

 (elected in 1876), D. Bell (elected in 1892), W. Colchester (elected 

 in 1857), Sir J. Fowler (elected in 1845), W. C. Lucy (elected in 

 1861), H. A. Nicholson (elected in 1867), T. Sopwith (elected in 

 1872), E. Wilson (elected in 1872), and others. 



He then drew attention to various subjects in which Geology has 

 a practical application. Firstly, as regards water-supply, the geology 

 of the gathering-ground is always of importance. In selecting sites 

 for reservoir-dams certain sorts of ground have generally to be 

 avoided, as of unstable character, whether from great disturbances, 

 from the occurrence of irregular masses of Drift, or from landslips. 

 The presence of pervious beds in a reservoir may also lead to trouble. 

 Illustrations of these matters are given by some of the waterworks 

 for Manchester and for Sheffield. 



In getting water by means of wells, geological considerations are 

 of great importance in fixing sites. While we can see springs and 

 streams, we have to infer much in dealing with underground water. 

 For large supplies we must go to permeable formations of fair thick- 

 ness and of broad outcrop, and should select sites where a large 

 area of gathering-ground can be brought under contribution. The 

 flow of water underground has to be studied, and the character of 

 the water-bearing rocks noticed, although there is often much differ- 

 ence in this latter between beds at or near the surface and the same 

 beds at great depths underground. 



Waters, too, vary with their depth, those found near the surface 

 often differing greatly in mineral contents from those in the same 

 beds at great depths : as, for instance, the waters of the deep wells 

 in London compared with those of wells in the bare chalk. 



In selecting sites for sewage-farms and for cemeteries. Geology is 

 again of importance, and it is especially needful to prevent the 

 contamination of water-bearing formations. A recent research of 

 Dr. Klein is of great interest, as showing the strong filtering-power 

 of fine compact sand in stopping the passage of microbes, whether 

 in water or in the dead bodies of guinea-pigs. 



Illustrations of the evil results of neglect in the protection of 

 water-supplies from contamination are given by the outbreak 

 of fevers at Worthing, with a well-supply, and at Maidstone, with 

 a spring-suppl3\ 



For the proper consideration of all these questions, it is needful 

 to have, firstly, a map on which the divisions of the Drift are shown; 

 and, secondly, a geological map on a large scale. Keference was made 



