Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-09-21

The Steamboat Bill!
The general interest now fel. in the sub.
ject Of steamboat travelling, in consequence
Of the recent startling calamities, prompts us
to lay before our readers the following sum.
mary Of the bill for the shelter protection Of
human life on steamboats," which finally
has passed both Houses o: Congress by a
very large majority -
The frs, section provides that no license
shall be granted by any collector to q steam
boat, until he has sufficient evidence tina,
the provisions of this Act are complied with;
and If il be ~navigated withou, this license,
the owners and the vessel itself shall be
subject to the penalties contained in the sec.
ond section Of the Act 10 which this is an
amendment.
SEC. 9. Enacts that the inspectors Of the
hulls of steamers, and Of boilers and engines,
shall see that suitable precautions are taken
agains. fire, that no license shall be granted
If any material likely to take fire from heat.
ed iron be placed at a less distance than 10
inches from the substance likely to cause ig.
milton, unless a column Of air or water in.
tervene betw cen the neaIeu surnco anu me
combustible material. But IL the structure
of the steamers is such that those require
ments cannot be complied with wilhou, great
inconvenience, then the inspectors are al
lowed TO vary therefrom, if they are salts.
fed it a be done with safety.
SEC. 3. Every steam vessel conveying
passengers, shall have three forcing pumps,
with chambers four inches in diameter, one
to be placed near the stern, one near the
stem and n amidship, each having a well
fitted hose wo.,hirds the length Of the yes.
sci, each pump having q pipe to connec.
with il, which shall pass through the side Of
the vessel so as always to be able to supply
it with water when afloat. Bu, in steamers
no, exceeding 200 tons measurement, two Of
the pumps may be dispensed with, and in
those over 200 tons, and not exceeding 500
ions, one Of the pumps may be dispensed
with.
SEC. 4. Every passenger steam vessel
shall have two boats-one q life-boat, made
Of metal; every vessel Of more than 800
tons, and less than 800 tons, shall have
three; every vessel Of more than 800, and
less than 1900 ions, four and every vessel
Of more Than 1900 tons, six but steamers
navigating rivers only are exemp, from car.
rying more than one l~ife.boat, provided
they have such other provisions for The pres.
e~rvaiion Of life as satisfies the inspector.
SEC. s. Every vessel shall have a life
preserver and a loa, for each passenger. and
25 fre-bucke.s and 5 axes. Avessel Of 600
tons shall have s buckets and l axe for
each 100 tons, decreasing as the tonnage in
creases-so that a vessel $500 tons may
have but 8 buckets for each 100 tons, and I
axe for every s buckets, A suficien, means
Of escape from the lower TO the upper deck
shall be always at hand.
SECS. 7 and 8. No hemp shall be carried
unless the bales are ~compactly pressed and
well covered; neither shall any explosive
burning fluids be carried as freight without
license. The violation Of these provisions
incurs a penalty of 300 for each offence.
Anybody putting OF board explosive materi-
ais, without labelling it on the outside, shall
be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000,
or BY eighteen months imprisonment.
SEC. 8. Provides that TWO inspectors shall
be appointed in district, one Of whom shall
Judge Of the hulls Of steamers, and be called
the Inspector Of hulls, the other the inspect
or Of boilers, both TO be approved Of by the
Secretary Of Treasury. Upon written de.
mand Of the master or owner they shall,
once a year, inspect the hull and boiler OF
each vessel within their district, and see
whether it can be n~aviga,ed with due regard
TO the safety Of passengers lives. For this
purpose they can subject the boilers TO a
moderate hydrosauc pressure, and shall sat.
isfy themselves thu. a. the pipes and tubes
are Of proper dimensions that there is o
modei ate suitable number Of s~afely.valvos
and gauge-cocks; a wa,er-gauge and steam.
gauge, and Ina, there is placed metal fusible
BY the heat, in or upon the flue Of each GU,
side high pressure boiler. Tha, upon the
examination Of every vessel, they shall re-
port 10 the commissioner OF the district its
soawouhineSs, and whether proper provis.
ions arc made for ~ex,inguishing fire should
!, arise. Any mar wishing 9 to fill the si,ua-
ZION Of engineer, shall undergo an examina.
zion before these inspectors, who. IL they
deem him competent, shall give him a Ger.
liicaIe TO that effect. They shall also OK.
anime pilots anybody feeling uggrievedb by
their decision, may appeal TO the supervising
inspector within thirty days; any master
employing a pilot, and any pllo, undertaking
The duties Of tina, situation, without frs, re-.
eciving the necessary certificate shall forfei,