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WOOD BLOCK WITH GRAIN END ‘UP AT SIDE PORT ENTRANCE TO A GREAT LAKES STEAMER—GOOD AT END OF SIX YEARS enced when the planks lay crosswise. Special wood block floors with the grain end up have proved satisfac- tory in industrial plants, railroad shops, freight stations. An experi- mental section of this type floor, laid at the side port entrance of a Great Lakes steamer, had a smooth sur- face after six years of hard wear. This floor is shown in one of the illustrations. Expenditure for good floors simply means spending money, now being used for maintenance and repair of equipment, for paying damage claims, for extra power and for labor costs, for improving the dock floor so that these expenses can be eliminated. After the cost of the improvement is paid for, the money formerly paid out for these unnecessary expenses, becomes profit. Reduce Operating Costs on U.S. Lines Ships In order that the vessels of the United States Lines, Inc., recently ac- quired from the shipping board by Paul W. Chapman, may be operated profitably under private ownership, William L. Bunker, vice president in charge of operation, has begun an in- Damage claims on roofing paper have been avoided by 48 the hold of ship, MARINE REVIEW—May, 1929 teresting program of promoting econ- omy. Following a careful survey of the situation, Mr. Bunker found that a number of employes on the various liners could be dispensed with without impairing the efficiency of the service. The personnel of the LEVIATHAN was accordingly reduced by 81 and pro- portionate reductions, wherever Ppos- sible, will be made in the other ves- sels of the fleet. The reduction of personnel in the LEVIATHAN will effect a saving of approximately $5000 monthly in the payroll of the vessel, as well as the attendant cost of food and supplies, and in addition the space formerly occupied by the 81 members of the crew will be converted into 30 additional cabins in desirable passenger space from which a revenue will be added to the yearly earnings of the vessel. Mr. Bunker, who is well qualified as an operating manager, stated that there is to be no cut in the wages of the personnel but that reduction in the number will be made wherever possible. The fleet of the United States Lines, Inc. includes the fol- lowing vessels: LEVIATHAN, AMERICA, GEORGH WASHINGTON, REPUBLIC, PRES- IDENT HARDING, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, AMERICAN BANKER, AMERICAN MER- CHANT, AMERICAN FARMER, AMERICAN SHIPPER and AMERICAN TRADER. The shipping board, meeting April 5 authorized the sale of the S. S. CONEHATTA to the American Scantic Line Inc., New York city, for the sum of $46,950. This vessel is to be included in the line which serves the trade between New York and Scandi- navian and Baltic ports. The line agrees to increase the minimum num- ber of guaranteed sailings from 28 to 32 per annum. keeping th I : ; dnd By Wbeess sone Piedad the dock, in the sling and in