Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-06-23
BY AUTHORITY.
Acts and Resolutions passed at the First
Session OF the Thirtieth Congress.


[PUBLIc-No. %. IAN Act to provide for the
ventilation OF passenger vessels, and for
other purposes.
Be at enacted By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States of Arner-
aca IN Congress assembled, That all vessels,
whether of the United States or any other
country, having sufficient capacity, according
10 law, Tor fifty or more passengers, (other
IMAM cabin passengers,) shall, when employed
IN transporting such passengers between the
United States and Europe have on the upper
deck, for the use of such passengers. house
over the passage-way leading to the apartment
allotted to such passengers below deck, firm
~ secured to the deck, or combings of the
hatch, with two doors, the stills of which shall
be at least one foot above the deck, so con-
structed that one door or window in such
house may, at all times, be left open for VEN
tIlatlon; and all vessels so employed, and hav-
ing the capacity to carry one hundred and if-
ty such passengers, or more, shall have two
such house; and the stairs or ladder leading
down to the aforesaid apartment shall be fur
nIshed with hand-rail of wood or strong
rope Provided, nevertheless, BOBBY matches
may be substituted for such houses in vessels
having three permanent decks.
SEC. And be 1t further enacted, That ev-
cry such vessel so employed, and having the
legal capacity for more than one hundred such
passengers, shall have at least two ventilators
to purify the apartment or apartments occu-
pied ny such passengers; one of which shall
be inserted IN the after-pa of the apartment
or apartments, and the other shall be placed
IN the forward portion of the apartment or a
partments and one Of them shall have an eX-
haustlng cap to carry off the foul air, and the
other receiving cap 10 carry down the fresh
air; which said ventiIators shall have a capa-
city propOrtioned to the size of the apartment
or apartments to be purified; namely, if the a.
partment or apartments will lawfully author
lZe the reception of two hundred such passen-
gers, the capacity of such ventiIators shall,
each Of them, be equal to tube of twelve
inches diameter in the clear, and in proportion
for large or smaller apartments; and ali said
ventlIa1ors shall rise at least four feet and six
inches above the upper deck of any such yes
sci, and be of the most approved form and
construction: Provided, That it shall appear,
from the report TO be made and approved, as
provided in the seventh section of this act.
that such vessel is equally well ventilated by
any other means, such other means of venti-
latlon shall be deemed, and held to be, COM
plance with the provisions of this section.
SEC 3. And be at further enacted, That ev-
cry vessel carrying more than fifty such pas
sengers, shall have for their use on deck,
housed and conveniently arranged, at least
one camhoose or cooking range, the limen-
slons OF which shall be equal 10 four feet long
and one foot SIX inches wide for every two
hundred passengers; and provision shall be
made in the manner aforesaid in this ratio for
a greater or less number of passengers: Pro-
Vlded, ho1ceUer, And nothing herein contained
shall take away the right TO make such ar
engagements for cooking between decks, If that
shall be deemed desirable
SEC 4. And be 1t further enacted, That all
vessels employed as aforesaid, shal! have on
board, for the use of such passengers at the
time Of eaving the last port whence such YES
sci shall sail, well secured under deck, for
each passenger, at least fifteen pounds of good
navy bread, ten pounds of rice, ten pounds of
oatmeal, ten pounds of wheat flour, ten pounds
of peas and beans, thirty five pounds of pota-
toes, one pint OF vinegar, sixty gallons OF fresh
water, ten pounds of sailed pork, free of bone,
all to be of good quality, and a sufficient sup
ply of fuel for cooking: but at places where
either rice, oatmeal, wheat flour, or peas and
beans cannot be procured, of good quality,
and on reasonable terms, the quantity of eth
er or any of the other last named articles may
be increased and substituted therefor; and in
case potatoes cannot be procured on reasona-
BILE terms, one pound of either of said articles
may be substituted in lieu of five pounds of
potatoes; and the captains of such vessels
shall deliver to each passenger at least one
tenth part of the aforesaid provisions weekly,
commencing on the day of sailing; and daily
at least three quarts of water, anu sufficient
fuel for cooking; and if the passengers on
board of any such vessel in which the provis-
ions, fuel, and wafer herein required shall not
have been provided as aforesaid, shall at any
time be put on short allowance during any
voyage, the master or owner of any such YES
sells shall pay to each and every passenger
who shall have been put on short allowance
the sum of three dollars for each and every
day they may have been on such short allow
ance, to be recovered in the circuit or district
court of the United States Provided, never
heless, And nothing herein contained shall
prevent any passenger, with the consent OF
the captain, from furnishing for himself the
articles of food herein specified; and, if pnt
on board in good order, it shall fully satisfy
the provisions of this act so far as regards
food: Ind provided further, That any pas
senger may, also, with the consent of the cap
tain, furnish for himself an equivalent for the
articles of food required in other and different
articles and if, without waste or g!ect on
the part of the passenger, or inevitable accl-
dent, they prove insufficient, and the captain
shall furnish comfortable food TO such pas
sengers during the residue of the voyage, this
in regard to food shall also be a compliance
with the terms of this act
SEC 5. And be it further enacted, That the
captain of any such vessel so employed is
hereby authorized TO maintain good discipline,
and such habits of cleanliness among such
passengers as will tend to the preservation and
promotion of health and TO that end, he shall
cause such regulations as he may adopt for
this purpose to be posted up before sailing, on
board such vessel, in a place accessible to
such passengers, and shall keep the same so
posted up during the voyage and it is hereby
made the duty Of said captain to cause the "a
partment occupied by such passengers to be
kept, at all times, in clean, healthy state,
and the owners of every such vessel so EN-,
ployed are required TO construct the decks,
and all parts of said apartment, so that it can
be thoroughly clensed; and they shall also
provide safe, convenient privy or waterloo
set for the exclusive use of every one hundred
such passengers. And when the weather is
such that said passengers cannot be mustered
Ill L. Al 4,