TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT 79 



RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION 



The volume of the research contributed by this division during 

 the year is indicated by the fact that 14 articles have been pre- 

 pared for publication, 1 is in preparation, and vv^ork is in progress 

 on 4 other problems. The authors and titles of the published 

 articles are given under the heading The Philippine Journal of 

 Science and other, publications. 



I desire especially to mention the work done on the nipa palm 

 as a source of sugar. This arose from an experiment on a large 

 scale, the results of which have led to investment in an enterprise 

 to utilize the nipa swamps of the Islands much more effectively. 

 This may well be expected to lead to large results in the industrial 

 development of the Islands. 



There is need for continuation of the investigations of copra, 

 but we have not been able to do this during the past year. This 

 work should be taken up again and carried out thoroughly with 

 the object of devising and putting into general use an inexpensive 

 but effective kiln for drying copra. A quick commercial method 

 for grading copra should also be devised, and efforts be made 

 to induce local copra merchants to do their buying on a more 

 scientific basis. The data as yet collected on this subject 

 are fragmentary and useless until supplemented by further 

 work, especially in the field. 



The report of the Iloilo sugar laboratory is made separately 

 on page 107. 



DIVISION OF MINES 



Personnel. — Dr. Warren D. Smith, chief of this division, re- 

 turned on October 2, 1912, from leave in the United States where 

 he had been investigating the most important oil fields in Cali- 

 fornia. He studied the situation from the points of view of the 

 geological features and the methods of the geologists ; drilling 

 operations ; pumping methods ; the distribution of the product, 

 including storage and marketing ; refining ; the leasing system ; 

 and legislation. This investigation will increase the reliability 

 of the judgment of the geologists of this Bureau with regard to 

 the practical side of our study of the Philippine oil fields. Mr. 

 Percy D. Kincaid was appointed a temporary employee on August 

 25, 1912. Mr. F. T. Eddingfield went on leave on November 

 25, 1912, and returned June 5, 1913. Mr. F. A. Dalburg has 

 been on leave since May 7, 1913. Mr. P. R. Fanning left Manila 

 on June 15, 1913, to spend his leave in the United States. He 

 will attend the Congres Geologique Internationale in Toronto 

 as a delegate from the Philippines. 



