PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



GEOLOGICAL & POLYTECHNIC 



SOCIETY 



AT THE THIRTY-FOURTH MEETING, HELD IN THE MUSIC 

 SALOON, WAKEFIELD, 

 ON THURSDAY, THE 20tH MARCH, 1847. 



The Rev. Theophilus Barnes, A.M., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Chairman opened the meeting by an appropriate 

 address, in which he dilated upon the importance and advan- 

 tages of the Society, as embracing alike the most useful 

 information connected with the Geology and Mining opera- 

 tions of the district, as well as the Polytechnic or Mechanical 

 department, more especially bearing upon the same subjects. 

 After enumerating several of the Papers which had occupied 

 the attention of the Society at the last few meetings, and 

 suggesting one or two subjects which he considered worthy 

 of their consideration, he observed : — I am glad to find 

 that this day we shall have two subjects, at least, brought 

 before us, of vast importance at a period like the present. 

 The one " On the Ventilation of Coal Mines which, 

 after the very recent lamentable catastrophe at the Oaks 

 Colliery, near Barnsley, would not fail to arrest the atten- 

 tion of every person who was desirous to save the lives 

 and lessen the dangers of a class of operatives the most 

 useful, and, at the same time, the most exposed to accidents, 

 which, when they occurred, affected not only themselves, but, 



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