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S. S. PRESIDENT HOOVER Interior /\rrangement and Decoration FFICIENT shipowning is an aid to efficient shipbuilding, and shipowner and _ ship- builder work to best advantage for their own profit and for the success of shipping when there exists close and cordial co-operation be- tween them. In this respect the design of the PRESIDENT Hoover and of the PRESIDENT COOL- IDGE serves as an outstanding example. The Dollar Steamship lines offered its ideas as to size and equipment of the vessels desired and permitted the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. to work out the problem. Repre- senting the shipbuilder, Carl E. Petersen work- ed closely with the directors and operating offi- cials of the line at San Francisco in order to ar- rive at a design of vessel especially adapted to the requirements of this service. After award of the contract detailed plans were also develop- ed in cooperation with the owner. This work was carried out under the direction of H. F. Norton, naval architect and J. F. Nichols, chief engineer at the shipyard. Interior architecture and decorations and furnishings were conceived and carried out by A. F. Marten Co., San Fran- cisco under the direction of F. E. Baldauf of that company. In the building of the PRESIDENT HOOVER and PRESIDENT CooLipGE American shipbuilding has attained a new high point of achievement for these vessels are the largest mercantile ships thus far built in the United States. The outstanding importance to the nation of their advent was recognized in their distinguished sponsorship at launching, Mrs. Herbert Hoover acting for the S. S. PRESIDENT HoOovER and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge for the S. S. PRESIDENT COoOoL- IDGE. 4 Gymnasium Passenger EHleva- tor of Modern Design . Installed on the S.S. Presi- dent Hoover for the Convenience of Passengers. Self Operating BPLECtT CC Push Button Type Distinctive American features characterize these vessels and outstanding among these is electric propulsion which is truly a great con- tribution to modern marine machinery by an American engineer. Not only are these vessels the latest of a rapidly growing list of electric- ally propelled vessels, but they also have the highest powered electric plant applied to an American merchant ship. They are the first all- electric ships to enter the transpacific trade. The electric plant on the PRESIDENT HOOVER was supplied by the General Electric Co., while the one on the PRESIDENT COOLIDGE was supplied by the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. Vessels with turbine electric machinery are relatively free from vibration which is a real point of popularity with travelers. A detailed description of the propelling machinery and auxiliaries is given later in this section. Public Rooms Are Unusually Spacious NOTHER American feature is the extensive bathing facilities found on these ships. The number of private baths and toilets in propor- tion to passengers carried is greater than in any vessel afloat. All of the 112 first class state- rooms have a private bath or are directly con- nected to one. Baths are all tiled in attractive colors and are fitted with plumbing fixtures of substantial modern design. For outdoor bath- ing there is a large fully tiled open-air swim- ming pool with sand beach and sun decks ad- joining. Public spaces are impressive because of their extent and the wide use of special woods in the interior design. Practically all of the enclos- ures on the promenade deck are for the use of passengers and comprise library and reading room, lounge and ballroom, smoking room, lobbies and marine tea garden. Spaciousness is 14 MARINE REVIEw— August, 1931