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August, 1926 MARINE REVIEW 19 S. S. Preswent LINCOLN sailing from San Francisco May 16, 1925 on her first trip in the California-Orient service under the ownership and management of the Dollar Steamship Line—Bound for Honolulu, Yckohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong-Kong, Manila and return—R. Stanley Dollar vice president and general manager Dollar Steamship Line or no domestic manufacturing is done, assume first importance in the ac- tivities of the American exporter. America is also closer to Oriental ports in the matter of nautical miles TABLE II Dollar Steamship Lines California-Orient Service 535-foot President Class Name Cost to build Sold for President Pierce $5,887,111.78 $1,125,000 President Wilson 7,041,551.44 1,125,000 President Taft 7,016,112.64 1,125,000 President Lincoln 7,008,964.80 1,125,000 President Cleveland 6,291,944.92 1,125,000 Total—5_ Ships $33,245,685.58 $5,625,000 Particulars Of the above vessels the PRESIDENT CLEVELAND was built at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., all the others were built at New York Shipbuild- ing Corp., Camden, N. J. These vessels are 535 feet in length overall; 518 feet between perpendiculars; 72 feet beam; 50 feet deep and 30 feet 7 inches in draft; the deadweight varies between 11,210 and 12,077 tons and the gross tonnage between 14,128 and 14,187. Machinery consists of two sets of geared turbines of 6000 horsepower each driving twin screws; eight water tube boilers burning oil; sea speed, 16 knots, with reserve power, speed 17% knots. Average fuel con- sumption 133 tons of oil per 24 hours. Completed during 1921. Negotiations by the Dollar line for the purchase of these ships were completed in April, 1925. Objection to sale by Pacific Mail delayed consummation. Contract was finally signed for delivery of the ships and service to the Dollar Steamship lines for guaranteed operation between California and the Orient and the first ship the PRESIDENT LINCOLN sailed under the new ownership May 16, 1925. The PRESIDENT WILSON, last ship to be turned over was received July 7, 1925. The total sales price was $5,625,000 to be paid, in addi- tion to the 214 per cent that accompanied the bid, one-third by letter of credit payable May 1, 1927 and the balance in 10 years with interest on deferred pay- ments at 41% per cent per annum, Dpay- able annually. than any other manufacturing coun- try. The importance of this fact can- not be over estimated because of the old adage, “First come, first served,” and America by reason of the weekly sailings from San Fran- cisco and Seattle of Dollar liners for all ports of commercial importance in the Far East finds herself well provided with speedy transport for merchandise. Fhree Passenger and Freight Services The Dollar Steamship line now has three fast fleets of freight and pas- senger lines constantly plying the Pacific. One of these fleets, which consist of seven large passenger and freight vessels, circles the world, pro- viding a fortnightly service to 21 world ports. Another fleet of five splendid passenger and freight ves- sels confines its activities exclusive- ly to the Pacific, Manila being the terminal port and the third fleet of five similar ships plies the trade route between the Northwest and the Orient. The company also has round the world freight vessels, a Guam service and a number of steamers in the inter- coastal trade between New York and Pacific coast ports. Capt. Robert Dollar, president of the company bearing his name has been a transpacific shipping man for over 30 years. He was one of the early pioneers in the China trade, which he entered in order to stimu- late his lumber export. It is of com- mon report that no American is better versed in Oriental conditions than Captain Dollar. He is looked upon by high government officials in China as a man who possesses an intimate and sympathetic understanding of the problems of their country. He ‘is often asked to assist in planning important governmental policies and has been the recipient of many decora- TABLE II Dollar Steamship Lines Seattle-Orient Service 535-foot President Class (Admiral Oriental Line) Name Cost to build Sold for President Madison $5,887,111.75 $ 900,000 President McKinley 7,041,552.23 900,000 President Grant 5,494,496.20 900,000 President Jefferson 17,317,318.15 900,000 President Jackson 6,353,232.06 900,000 Total—5__ ships $32,093,710.39..$4,500,000 Particulars The PRESIDENTS GRANT and JACKSON were built, respectively, by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Sparrows Point plant, Md., and Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. The three others were built by the New York Shipbuilding Camden, N. J. They were all Corp., either completed or under construction in 1921. These vessels are similar to the President class of ships in the California- Orient service, detailed particulars of which are given in Table II. The contract for the sale of these five vessels and service from Seattle to the Orient was signed on May 28, 1926. R. Stanley Dollar’s first offer was. made Feb. 5, 1926 and was for $600,000 per ship. New bids were asked for and two were received. One from the Dollar in- terests at $900,000 per ship and the other for $800,000 per ship from interests represented by W. B. Keene, a resident of Washington. The Dollar bid was accepted on April 18, 1926. Bitter oppo- sition developed and it was not until favorable decisions by the United States attorney general, the attorney for the shipping board, and the judge _ before whom the injunction to restrain sale was argued, that the contract was finally signed on May 28, 1926. The“terms are not definitely known but it is assumed that they are similar ‘to those for the other fleets purchased.