Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-08-17
VOL. XII..No. $50
STEAMBOATS,,
SYNOPSIS OF THE LATE U. STATES

DEC. L. requires all vessels propelled IN
| whole or 10 part BY steam, to take on, be.
fore The LIST Oct. next. a new Ilcence, sub.
jcct to the conditions hereafter.
Sec. 2. Prohibits all vessels propelled a.
above, from transporting passengers or
goods "in or upon the bays, lakes, rivers.
or other navgablc waters Of tho United
States" after the ist Of Oct. without such
new l'cence. Penalty for non compliance
five hundred dollars, tor which boat may
be proceeded against summary.
Sec. 3. Aulhorises the District Judge to
appoint competent and faithful persons 20
inspect huls, boilers. and machinery Of
every steam vessel, whenever requested go
to do ny the mast er or owner thereof, which
inspectors are TO furnish duplicate cer,i6.
Gates of their inspection, and 10 take an
oath faithfully to discharge their duty. No
one to be appointed who Is interested in
The manufacture of steam engines or ma
chinety. ....
Sc. 4 Requires the person appointed
to inspect The hull of any steam boat, 10
state 10 Ills certificate the age Of the boat.
when and where Quilt. and how long it has
been running; and also whether the vessel
Is ~ his npnlon sound aud seawor'hy. Fee
s.. to be paid by owner or master.
Sec. S. Imposes the same duties on the
PERSONS required to inspect The boiiers--,hs
cer''fica es to state the age thereof, and
whether sound and fl for use. One copy
ofthe certificate to be delivered to the Col
lecto'. the other TO "be posted 10, and kept
~ some con$p cuou: part ofthe boat" Fee
az above.
Sec. 6. The inspection under the 4.h
Sec. 10 be made once gear tina, under the
5 h Sec. twice n yeur-,he certificate Of
such inspection to be delivered Dv the own.
er or master to the Collector, under The
peEalty Of forf"tnve 0';he l.crce, ind in-
curing the penalties Of r0nung without a
Icrnce. A "competehl NUMBER of eypcri-
enced and skiliuI engineers" to be kept By
the owners on board every boat--onG for
neglect OF doing so, the owners and master
liable "ior all damages 10 the property OF
any passenger on board. occasloned by ex-
pIoson or bv arrangement Of machinery"
Sc. T. Requires under the penalty of
$500 that whenever the boat stops for pas.
sengers. freight or fuel, the safety.valve
,hall be opened $50 as to keep the steam
down IN the boiler a near o. p'actlble to
what u Is when the boat is under beadWay."
Sec. 6. Requires under penalty of $500,
boats navigating the lakes or the ocean, it
not over 900 tons, to carry 1.-TWO long boats
or yawls, each competent to carry at least
twenty persons" larger steamers to carry
at least three such yawls.
Sec. 9. Requires under like penalty all
steamers referred to in Sec. 8. 10 carry
with them an engine and suc,ion-hose in
good order, and to use iron rods or chains
instead of ti'ler ropes.
Sec. 10 Requires steam vessels running
between sunset and sunrise 10 carry lights
-penaty 5000.
Sec. II. All penalties 10 be sued for in
The District Court, where the offence Oc.
ours, or where the owner or master resides.
One half for the informer, the other for the
United States.
Sec. l2 EVERY captain engineer, pilot,
or other person employed on board a steam.
boat" through whose "negllgence, mscon.
duct, and inat'cntIon," life is lost, shall be-
deemed "guiHy Of manslaughter," aud upon
Conv'cIio ion, be sentenced to confinement at
hard labor for no. more than ten years.
Sec. 10. In all actions agalns, steamboat
owners or masters. the "bursting of the
boiler. collapse Of fue, or injurious escape
Of steam" shall b. taken as "fulI prima
facle evidence. sufficient to charge the de-
fendent, or those in his employ. with negli.
gence. until he shall show there was no
negligence by him or those in his employ.
ment."