Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-27
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
PASSED AT THE FIRST SESSION THIRTIETH CONGRESS
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.

lPuBLrc-No. %.
AN ACT to provide for the ventilation Of passenger vessels
and for other purposes.
Be ii eaacfed by the Senate and House Of Representa-
fires of the United States Of america Congress assembled
That all vessels whether of the United States any other
country, having sufficient capacity according to law, for fifty
passengers, (other than cabin passengers SHALL
when employed transporting such passengers between the
United States and Europe, have the deck, for the
Of such passengers house the leading
TO the apartment allotted TO such passengers below deck firmly
secured TO the deck combngs of the hach with DOORS
the ss of which shall be at least foot above the deck
constructed that door window in such house may all
times be left open for ventilation and all vessels employ
cd and having the capacity carry hundred and fifty such
passengers more shall have such houses and the stairs
ladder leading down TO the aforesaid apartment shall he
furnished with handra Of wood strong rope Prorded
nevertheless, BOBBY matches may be substituted for such
houses in vessels having three permanent decks.
Sec 2. and be further enacted That every such vessel
employed and having the legal capacity for than
hundred such passengers shall have least venttos
purify the apartment apartments occupied by such pasen
gers Of which shall be inserted in the after part Of the
apartment apartments and the other shall be placed In the
forward portion OF the apartment apartments and Of
them shall have exhausiing cap carry off The foul air
and the other receiving cap carry down the fresh air
which said ventaiors shall have capacity propooned
the size Of the apartment apartments to be purfed
y, if the apartment apartments will lawfully authorize the
reception of hundred such passengers the capacity of such
venators SHALL each of them be equal tube Of twelve
inches diameter in the clear and in proportion for larger
smaller apartments and all said ventator shall rise at least
four feet and inches above the upper deck OF such
sci, and be Of the approved form and construction
Prorded That shall appear from the report to be made
and approved provided in the seventh section Of this act
that such vessel equally well ventilated by any other means
such other OF ventilation shall be deemed and held
be compEance with the provisions of this section.
Sec 3. And bel further enacted, That every vessel
yng than fifty such passengers shall have for their
deck housed and conveniently arranged at least
boose cooking range the dimensions Of which shall be
IN nd civ de
two hundred passengers and provision shall be made in the
aforesaid in this ratio for greater less number of
passengers Proridd however, And nothing herein contain
ed shall take away the right make such arrangements for
cooking between decks, if that shall be deemed desirable.
Sec a. And be further enacted That all vessels employ
ed Aforesaid shall have board for the Of such
senges the time Of leaving the last port whence such vessel
shall SAIL well secured under deck for each at least
fifteen pounds of good navy bread ten pounds OF ce ten
pounds Of oatmeal pounds Of wheat four ten pounds Of
peas and BEANS thryve pounds Of potatoes, pint Of
vinegar sixty gallons Of fresh water pounds OF sailed pork
free Of bone all to be Of good quality, and sufficient supply
OF fuel for cooking but at places where either RICE oatmeal
wheat four peas and beans be procured Of good
quality and reasonable TERMS the quantity OF either any
Of the other last named articles may be increased and subst
tued therefor and in potatoes cannot be procured
reasonable TERMS pound Of either Of said articles be
substituted lieu of pounds potatoes and the captains
OF such vessels shall deliver each passenger at least
tenth part of the aforesaid provisions weekly commencing
tho day Of sailing and daily least three quarts Of wate and
fue TOT lassensefs O
any such vessel in which the provisions fuel and water herein
required shall not have provided aforesaid shalt any
time be put short allowance during any voyage the master
any such vessels shall TO each and every
senger who shall have been put short allowance the
three dollars for each and every day they may have been
such short allowance be recovered in the circuit district
court of the United States Provided, nevertheless And
nothing herein contained shall prevent any passenger with the
the captain from furnishing for himself the articles
Of food herein specified and put board in good ORDER il
shall fully satisfy the provisions OF this act far regards
food And prorided further, That any passenger may, also,
with the consent of the captain, furnish Tor himself equva-
lent for the Articles Of food required in other and different ar-
cles and IT, without neglect the part Of the pas
senger Inevitable accident they insufficient and the
captain shall furnish comfortable food to such passengers
ring the residue Of the voyage this in regard to food shall also
be compliance with the terms OF this act
Sec. s. Andbe further enacted, That the captain OF any
such vessel employed hereby authorized TO maintain good
discipline and such habits of cleanliness among such passe-
gers will tend 10 the and promotion Of health
and to that end he shall such regulations he may
adopt for this purpose be posted before sailing board
such vessel in place accessible such passengers shall
keep the same 50 posted up during the voyage and 1t here
by made the duty of said captain TO the apartment
pied by such passengers bcep, all times clean healthy
sae and the every such vessel employed
qured to construct the decks and all parts Of said apartment
so that it can be thoroughly ceansed and they shall also pro-
vide safe convenient pvy wateclose for the exclusive
use Of every one hundred such passengers and, when the
weather such that said passengers cannot be mustered deck
with their bedding shall be the duty Of the captain Of every
such to cause the deck occupied by such
be cleaned with chloride Of me some other equally efficient
disinfectir- -~~r. 80 80 ttsN Sc I'D captain