XCviii PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [JuilG I912, 



study of outcrops, whether Palaeozoic or Neozoic, must by no means 

 be relaxed, it ought to be carried on more vigorously than ever. 

 For this reason, while it is well that geological surveys should 

 devote special attention to areas giving prospect of immediate 

 economic return, it is not right or wise to confine their energies to 

 such areas, or to rocks containing or overlying products of economic 

 value. It is a general principle that what is merely of academic 

 interest to-day, always becomes of economic importance to-morrow ; 

 and it is at least as certain that tectonic laws worked out in the 

 study of the Highlands or the Pennine will prove applicable to the 

 coalfields that may be found in the future, as it is that the zonal 

 study of the ammonites or the graptolites in the past has brought 

 about the discovery of principles and methods which are now being 

 successfully applied to the Carboniferous rocks, A thorough under- 

 standing, not only of the Coal-measures and the rocks overlying 

 them, but also of those underlying them, is required before a 

 thorough grasp of the tectonic features of the coalfields, as a whole, 

 can be obtained. And, further, as the tectonic structure of the 

 entire kingdom hangs together as a unit, we must not rest satisfied 

 till the whole of that structure, economic or apparently non- 

 economic, simple or complicated, outcropping or covered, has been 

 unravelled as thoroughly as all possible observations within the 

 area itself, and all reasonable comparisons with other areas, will 

 allow. 



(c) Difficulties. 



It is unquestionable that it will be by no means an easy matter 

 to devise any scheme by which such a survey of underground 

 geology as I have outlined could be carried out. One thing obvious 

 is that some modification of the existing law would be required : 

 for, as the law stands, there does not seem to be any possibility of 

 bringing about exploration by a system of encouragement and 

 compensation. Both would be required. A landowner could not 

 be expected to go to the expense of proving any portion of his 

 property without some hope of direct benefit to himself. He would 

 not be willing to take the risk of loss resulting from doubtful 

 experiments, or the damage of a negative result, without some help 

 or compensation. Xor, if successful in locating coal, would he be 

 satisfied unless he could command access to a mining area large 

 enough to pay a good return on the capital risked in exploration. 



On the other hand, the appointment of a Government Survey 

 Department to carry out explorations needing so considerable an 



