The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-08
MORNING, SEPTEMBER 8, 1852.
THE RE P u BLIC.
BY AUTH GRITTY.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
Passed during The First Session Of the Thirty second
Congress.
lPUBLIc AcT-No. S2.l


Passed during the First Session Of the Thirty second
Congress.
| lPUBLIc AcT-No. S2l
AN ACT to amend an act entitled can act to
provide for the better security of the lives of pas.
sengers on board of vessels propelled in whole
or in part by steam,' and for other purposes.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiUes Of the United States Of America in Con
gress assembled, That no license register, enrol
ment under the provisions Of this or the act to
which this ia an amendment shall be granted, or
other papers issued by any collector to any vessel
propelled in whole or in part by steam, and car
evidence that all the provisions Of this act have
been fully complied with; and IL any such vessel
shall be navigated with passengers on board. with
out complying with the terms OF this act, the own
thereof and the vessel itself shall be subject
the penalties contained in the second section Of the
act to which this is amendment.
SEC 2. And be ii further enacted, That il shall be
the duty OF the inspectors of the bulls of steamers,
and the inspectors ii boilers and engines appointed
under the provisions of this act, to examine and
that suitable and safe provisions are made through
out such vessels to guard against loss or danger
from fire; and no license or other papers on any
application shall be granted if the provisions Of
this act for preventing fires are not complied with,
or if any combustible material liable to take fire
from heated iron, or any other heat generated on
board of such vessels in and about the boilers pipes
machinery, shall be placed at lees than eighteen
inches distant from such heated metal or other
substance likely to cause ignition, unless column
of air or water intervenes between such heated
surface and any wood or other combustible mate
rial exposed, sufficient at all times and under all
circumstances to prevent ignition; and further,
when wood is 30 exposed to ignition, an add,
tonal preventive, it shall be shielded by some in
| combustible material in such manner as to leave
| the air to circulate freely between such material
and the wood: Provided, ho,Deper, That when the
structure OF such steamers is SUCH or the arrange
ment of the boilers or machinery is such that the
| ppnfo afn rio tn
convenience or sacrifice be complied with, inspec-
| tors may vary therefrom if in their Judgment it
can be done with safety.
SEC. B. -And be it further enacted, That every
vessel 30 propelled by steam, and carrying passen
gers, shall have not less than three double acting
| forcing pumps, with chamber at least four inch
es in diameter, two to be worked by hand
and one by steam, if steam can be employ
cd, otherwise by hand; one whereof shall be
| placed near the stern-one near the stem and
one amidshp; each having a suitable well-ft-
ted hose, of at least two-thirds the length of the
| vessel, kept at all times in perfect order, and
| ready for immediate use; each of which pumps
shall 80 be supplied with water by pipe con-
nected Herewith, and passing through the side of
the vessel so low as to be at all times in the water
| when she is afeat: Provided That in steamers not
exceeding two hundred tons measurement, two Of
said pumps may be dispensed with, and in steam
ers of over two hundred tone, and not exceeding
| five hundred tons measurement, of said
| pumps may be dispensed with:
SEC. 4. And6 it further enacted, That every such
vessel carrying passengers shall have at least two
| good and suitable boats supplied with oars, in
good condition at all times for service, of which
boats shall be life-boat made of metal, fire proof
and in all respects good substantial safe boat
capable of sustaining, inside and outside, fifty per
sons, with life-lines attached to the gunwale, at
suitable distances And every such vessel of more
than five hundred tons, and not exceeding eight
hundred tons measurement. shall have three life
boats; and every such vessel Of more than eight
| hundred tons aud not exceeding fifteen hundred
tons measurement, shall have four life boats; and
every such vessel of more than fifteen hundred
tons measurement, shall have elk life boats; all Of
which life5oats shall be we'll furnished with oars
and other necessary apparatus: Provided, hooerer,
| The inspectors are hereby authorized to exempt
steamers navigating rivers only from the obga-
ton to carry the life. boat herein provided for,
| than one, the same being of suitable dimensions,
made of metal, md furnished with all necessary
| apparatus for use and safety; such steamers hav
ing other suitable provisions for the preservation Of
| life IN case Of fire or other disaster.
Sec. S. And be ii further enacted, That every
such vessel carrying passengers shall also be pro-
| vided with good life prcserver made of suitable
material, md float we'll adapted to the purpose,
for each and every passenger, which life. preservers
| and floats shall always be kept in convenient and
accessible places in such vessel and in readiness
for the use OF the passengers; and every such yes
sci shall aso keep twenty five buckets and five
axes; and there shall be kept on board every such
vessel exceeding five hundred tons measurement,
buckets and axes after the rate of their tonnage
| follows: On every vessel of six hundred tons mea
surement, five buckets and one axe for each one
| hundred tons measurement, decreasing this pro-
portion the tonnage of the vessel increases, SO
that any such vessel of thirty. five hundred tons,
and all such vessels exceeding the same, shall not
be required to keep but three buckets for each one
hundred tons of measurement, and but one axe for
every five buckets.
SEC. g. And be it further enacted, That every
such vessel carrying passengers on the main or
lower deck shall be provided with sufficient means
convenient to such passengers for their escape to
the upper deck in case of fire other accident en-
dangering life.
SEC. 4 And be ii further enacted That no loose
| hemp shall be carried on board any such vessel;
| nor shall baled hemp be carried on the deck or
guards thereof unless the bales compactly
| pressed and we'll covered with bagging or n simi-
lar fabric; nor shall guppowder, oil OF turpentine
oil of vitrio camphene, other explosive burning
fluids materials which ignite by friction, be car
ried on board any such vessel freight except in
cases of special license for that purpose, here
| matter provided and all such articles kept on
board as stores shall be secured in metallic
GELS. And every person who shall knowingly vio-
late any of the provisions of this section shall pay
penalty of one hundred dollars for each offence,
to be recovered by action of debt in any court Of
competent jurisdiction.
SEC. 8. 4nd be IL further enacted, That hereafter
! all guppowder, oil of turpenine, oil of vitriol,
camphene, or other explosive burning fluids, and
| materials which ignite by friction, when packed
| or put up Tor shipment on board Of any such yes.
sci, shall be securely packed or put up separately
from each other and from all otHcr articles; and
tnc puChaSc, poA, Cdbhs VI Ncssel tuc
same, shall be distinctly marked the outside
with the name or description of the articles con-
tanned therein. And every person who shall pack
or put up, or cause to be packed or put up for
shipment on board Of any such vessel, any gun
powder, oil Of turpenine, oil OF vitrio camphene.
or other explosive burning fluids, materials
which ignite by friction, otherwise than as afore-
said, or shall ship the same, unless packed and
marked az aforesaid, on board OF any steam vessel
carrying passengers, shall be deemed guilty OF
a misdefneanor, and punished by fine not ex
ceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not
exceeding eighteen months, or both.
Sso. 9. And be 10 further enacted, That instead
of the existing provisions of law for the inspection
of steamers and their equipment, and instead Of
the present system of piotagc of such vessels and
the present mode Of employing engineers on board
the same. the following regulations shall be OBJ
served, to witt The collector other chief officer
OF the customs, together with the supervising in.
spector for the district, and the judge of the district
court of the United States for the district in each
Of the following collection districts, namely, New
Orleans and st. Louie, the Mississippi river
Louisville, Cincinnati, Wheeling, and Pittsburgh
on the Ohio river; Buffalo and Cleveland, on Lake
Estn otrnif rntf r,v ahy,ll