The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1852-11-13
The New Steamboat 0i,l.

D
covers nearly the whole of one OF the am.
pie pages OF the InteIligencer. It's at
/ Importance. however, requires that - ad.
/ ing provisions should be made k, own ne
widely as possible. The law itself requires
that two copies shall be KEEP, on board of
every steamer subject to its provisions. To
be furnished by the Secretary of the Treas.
ury and the captain is bound, under a
severe penalty, TO exhibit it to any rassen>
ger who may ask for it, The law is To 90
into operation, in New Orleans Galveston.
Mobile, and all the Western districts. on
the lsi day of January next. aud in all the
other districts on the st dag OF March next.
The greater par, o! the act cannot be
abbreviated, consisting AS it does of very
minute instructions to the inspectors which
1t provides for, for the examination Of the
hull of every vessel. it's interior arrange.
ments and construction for passengers aud
freight, the number, form, dimensions, ma
terials, working power, &c. of the boilers.
engines, furnaces, supply pipes, guage
cocks. water and steam euagcs, aud all
all other parts of the machinery far all
and each OF which the law prcscrbcs rates
aud proportions. But they are lulelirihle
only to engineers and builders, and would
convey little information to the general
reader
Some portions Of the bill. however. con.
tain provisions aud take precautions for
the safety and comfort of passengers, which
may be universally understood
The most important of these are. the
creation of a General Board ol Supervising
Inspectors throughout the uted States.
and Local Board Of Inspectors in each
Of the enumerated collection districts of
the L = customs where steamboats, are
employed.
The local hoard is composed OF two in.
spectors in each district one rs Inspector
OF bulls and the other as inspector of boil.
ers They arc to receive their appoint
ment from a board composed Of the Col
lcctor OF the Port, the | : District Judge.
and the Supervisory General Inspector, who
may hc detailed by the general board for
that district. To these inspectors are as,
signed not only the duty of inspection Of
huls and boilers, to which we have refer.
red above, but the further power ol exam.
ining, classifying, aud licensing all eugi>
reers. and pilots of steamers carrying pas
sengers These licenses are limited to one
year from date, and steamers are forbid.
den. under penalties, TO employ either en-.
gineer or pilot without his license, or in
any capacity, out of the '',strlct named in
the certificate. Some exceptions are made
for sudden emergencies in cases OF neccs.
si,y. Appeals are provided to the higher
board. from decisions Of the board against
applicants for the licenses.
The examination of all boats and boil.
crs without which no steamer will be Ii
cens.d, is to be made ut least once n year,
and ofener il the inspectors have reason
to suppose il necessary.
The supervisory board is 10 consist of
nine inspectors, appointed by the President
aud Senate, whose duty it shall be to ms.
semble at least once year, for the estab-
,Ishmen, OF rules and regulations for the
government and direction OF the local
boards. aud 10 assign the limits within
which each of them shall act, in supervi-
sing the local boards OF the year; 10 visit
and confer with them. and hear appeals,
and to report to the Secretary OF the
Treasury,
As additional means of safety, the law
requires all oJ hau steamers o. 800 tons
hnthen or over, to have six sufficient metal
or fire proof lite boats in order to carry
hiiv persons each boats OF 500 tons to
have four 800 tons three 200 tons two.