FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 29 



be the product of selected stock and skillful rearing. To gain 

 and retain a good name for Philippine silk, a silk expert is 

 needed. To develop the industry there should be demonstrators, 

 trained by the expert, who will establish small silkhouses where 

 the people can b6 shown the possibilities of this industry. 



CHEMICAL LABORATORY 



DIVISION OF GENERAL, INORGANIC, AND PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY 



The plan which I inaugurated last year of operating the divi- 

 sion of general, inorganic, and physical chemistry under three 

 superintendents of section who would report directly to me has 

 been entirely satisfactory. The sections continue to be desig- 

 nated (1) Section of analytical chemistry: Rocks, minerals, ores, 

 slags, clays, limes ; plasters, soils, fertilizers, etc. ; iron and steel ; 

 metals and alloys; pigments and mixed paints, including vehicles; 

 fuels, including calorific value; gas; inorganic chemicals and 

 other inorganic analyses, except fire assays. (2) Section of 

 weights, measures, water analysis, and physical chemistry: 

 Waters, sewage, corrosion ; weights and measures ; instruments 

 and apparatus such as thermometers, pyrometers, microscopes, 

 refractometers, and other physical and chemical apparatus. 

 (3) Section of physical and mechanical testing: Cements, aggre- 

 gates ; iron and steel ; road materials ; tar, asphalt, and bitumen ; 

 stone, twine, ropes, wires, khaki cloths, fuels, etc. ; and the 

 standardization of other classes of supplies. 



The personnel of the sections remains unchanged, except that 

 in the section of weights, measures, water analysis, and physical 

 chemistry, to fill a vacancy which has existed since January, Mr. 

 A. S. Behrman was transferred from the Bureau of Education 

 on June 1, 1916, and was trained especially for the field work in 

 water analysis. Mr. V. Q. Gana resigned, effective May 9, 1916. 

 Mr. J. Gonzales, who has served as a temporary employee, was 

 assigned to routine work in the water laboratory. He qualified 

 on November 6, 1916, for regular appointment in the classified 

 service. Mr. F. M. Villanueva has been employed since Novem- 

 ber 9, 1916, in the section of physical and mechanical testing, 

 where he is at present engaged in an investigation of the manu- 

 facture of roofing tiles. There has been the closest cooperation 

 between the sections, men have been transferred temporarily 

 from one section to another, and there has been no confusion, 

 overlapping, or neglect of work. 



Routine. — The routine work accomplished by the division of 

 general, inorganic, and physical chemistry has been as great as, 



