ATKINSON: HISTORY AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. 57 
thought that great advantage would result from the forma- 
tion of the Society for collecting and recording geological 
and mechanical information with the accuracy and minute- 
ness necessary for the successful prosecution of mining. 
These objects it was hoped would be most effectually 
attained by the formation of a collection of maps, plans, 
sections, models, mining records, and every kind of informa- 
tion respecting the geological structure of the country ; the 
construction ultimately of a complete geological map or 
model ; the formation of a museum, as well of the various 
fossils and mineral products of the district, as of drawings 
and models of the machinery and tools employed in mining ; 
the consideration of the various systems of ventilation in use ; 
the holding of public meetings in the principal towns of the 
West Riding, for reading communications and discussing 
topics connected with these subjects ; the publication of 
papers, reports, and transactions, and the corresponding and 
co-operating with the metropolitan and other similar 
societies. While these subjects would occupy the principal 
attention of the Society, it was considered desirable (par- 
ticularly as there was no other society embracing these 
objects) to extend its operations to whatever was connected 
with the staple manufactures of the West Riding, together 
with the bearings of geology and chemistry upon agriculture, 
and the application of mechanical inventions to the common 
arts of life. 
The Society was at length formed, and the late Earl Fitz- 
william accepted the office of President, and was a great help 
to the infant Society. To trace the history of the Society 
would be to trace the history of the mining and iron district, 
nut only in Yorkshire, but in England. A list of the 
papers read at the several meetings of the Society may be 
found in the Transactions for 1876, to which I beg to 
refer you. 
