CHAPTER I, 
FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY : UNPUBLISHED RECORDS. 
The Yorkshire Geological and Polytechuic Society originated at a 
meeting of the coal proprietors of the West Riding, held at "Wakefield 
in the latter part of the year 1837. For a period of nearly forty 
years the work of the Society was confined to the West Riding, and 
not until the annual meeting held at Huddersfield in 1876 was its 
sphere of operations extended so as to embrace the whole county. 
At a preliminary meeting Thomas Wilson, Esq., of Banks Hall, near 
Barnsley, occupied the chair ; after discussing the question of the 
formation of the Society, it was stated "that considering the extent 
and importance of the Yorkshire Coal field ; the imperfect informa- 
tion respecting its numerous beds of coal and ironstone ; also, that 
in winning and working these beds a large amount of capital was 
embarked ; extensive machinery and a large population employed ; 
the step was justified." It was expected that great advantages would 
result from the institution of a Society for collecting and recording 
Geological and Mechanical information, with the accuracy and 
minuteness necessary for the successful prosecution of mining- 
operations. It was hoped to attain the objects thus indicated by the 
formation of a collection of maps, plans, sections, models, mining 
records, and every kind of information respecting the geological 
structure of the country ; the construction ultimately of a complete 
geological map ; the formation of a museum in which the various 
fossils and mineral products of the district, as well as drawings and 
models of machinery, and the tools employed in mining, might be 
stored. It was decided to hold public meetings in the principal 
B 
