Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-22
Steamboat Navigation.

A Washington correspondent of the Buffalo Com
mercial gives some particulars of the transactions
of the Board of Steamboat Inspectors which re-
Gently closed its sessions at Washington. He
states:
The rules and regulations Edopted by the Board
to be observed by pilots of steamers upon the lakes
and Atlantic coast in passing in narrow or danger-
GUS channels, are as follows:
All pilots of steamers navigating seas CULTS, lakes,
bays or rivers, Except rivers emPtying into the
Gulf of Mexico or their tributarieS,) when meeting
or passing each other shall, they approach each
other, observe the following regulations:
RULE /. The pilot of descending vessel, If in
narrow river or channel, shall check her engine,
using only so much steam as shall be necessary to
keep her Steerage, and if signal is given, each
shall pess to the right the larboard side ofhe
other but if this mode of passing shall be deemed
unsafe by the pilot of either vessel the pilot object
ing to it shall give reasonable notice by distinct
and strong stroke of the bell, repeating the same II
necessary, at short but distinct intervals, while the
other shall answer as soon as heard by similar
stroke of the bell and they shall each pass to the
left instead of the right. But if apassage by each
other is unsafe or impractcable, by reason OF the
uarrowness of the channel from other cause, the
pilot of the vessel first in such channel shall nng
her bell rapidly, and the other, if not already IN
the channel, shall give way and let her pass; but
if both IRE in the channel, the ascending vessel
shall give way to the descending vessel, and no
vGSSel SnalI De coming Win
another if it be possible to avoid it.
RULE 2. Should the pilot Of either vessel fail to
make or to answer the signals prescbed, or should
signal be answered enormously, both vessels Shall
be Immediately stopped. When vessel is run
ming in fog, it shall be the duty OF the pilot to
cause bell to be struck or the steam whistle to
be sounded every two minutes; this rule shall be
observed by all pilots in all seas gufs, lakes bays
and rivers.
l understand that the pilots rules for boats nav
igating the waters emptyng into the Gulf Of Mexi-
co are somewh hat different, owing othe peculiari-
ty of these rivers and it was thought imPractcable
to change or alter them.
There prevailed, am told, the greatest unanlm-
ity among the members of the Board, and the most
confident assurances are expressed that the law
will prove amply sufficient to prevent almost If
not entirely, the recurrence OF the dreadful dSas-
tiers by steamboats, with whichwe have heretofore
been shocked.
There is one thing, of which atall events, am
confident. the public may rest assured that the law
will be faithfully and fairly carried Out, and although
it will be the constant aim of the Board not to I'M
pose any unnecessary burdens upon the owners or
Using additional security to life within the limits OF
law, will be strictly required.
There are many provisions of the law which 1t
is important that the steamboat men should under
stand early-such life boats life preservers, &c,
for if l am not much mistaken, no boat will be al
lowed to rum after the law comes into force, with
out having these provided, and it is apprehended
that there will be difficulty in getting supply from
the manufacturer, particularly metallic life boat
ID Ilearn, too, that the Board adjourned tomeet in
the city of New York OIL the 9Th of December next
for the purpose of determining the number of deck
passengers boot will be allow ed 10 carry. If your
owners are interested, let them advise the inspec
torseir their respective districts, that they may
know better how tn act-advise all concerned to
obtain the law and read it carefully.