The true Democrat., 1855-09-11

public lands of the United States.
 4. And be 1t further enacted, That tho President of the United States is hereby autho rzed to designate the sites at which each of tn, several offices shall be established, and to re. move the same to any other places within saiC districts respectively, whenever in his opinion i may be deemed eXpedient
 2 5. And be 1t further enacted That any locations or sales of land, in either of the dis trlcts of land now subject to sale at Dubuque Fort Des. Moines, or kanesvle, after the pas sage of this act, and before the recept, by tho land officers respectively, thereat of instruc tions from [the] Commissioner of the Genera Land Office under this act shall be as good and valid in law as if this act had not beer passed.
 Approved, March 3, 1855.
 AN ACT to Regulate the Carriage of Passen- gers in Steamships and other Vessels.
 | Be it enacted by the Senate and House ot Representatives of the United States of Ame- rca in Congress assembled, That no master ot any vessel owned in whole or in part by citi- zen of the United States, or by citizen of any foreign country, shall take on board such vessel at any foreign port or place other than foreign contiguous territory of the United States greater number of passengers than in proportion of one to every two tons of such vessel, not including children under the age of one year in the computation, and computing two chil- dren over one and under 8 years of age as one passenger That the spaces appropriated fol the use of such passengers and which shall not be occupied by stores or other goods, not the personal baggage of such passengers, shall be in the following proportions, viz: On the main and poop decks or platforms, and in the deck houses, if there be any, one passenger foI each 16 clear superficial feet of deck, if the height or distance between the decks or plat form shall not be less than 6 feet; and on the lower deck, (not being an orlop deck,) if any one passenger, for IS such clear superficial feet If the height or distance between the decks or platforms shall not be less than feet, but so as that no passenger shall be carried on any other deck or platform, nor upon any deck where the height or distance between decks Is less than ( feet, with intent to bring such passenger to the United States, and shall leave such port or place and bring the same, or any number thereof, within the jurisdiction of the Uuted States; or if any such master of any vessel shall take on board his vessel, at any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, any greater number of passengers than in the proportion aforesaid, to the space aforesaid or to the ton mage, aforesaid, with intent to carry the same to any foreign port or place other than foreign con- tiguous territory as aforesaid, every such mas ter shall be deemed guilty of msdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, before any circuit or district court of the United States shall, for each passenger taken on board beyond the limit aforesaid, or the space aforesaid, be fined in the sum of $50, and may also be imprisoned, at the discretion of the judge before whom the penal ty shall be recovered, not exceeding C months; but should it be necessary, for the safety or convenience of the vessel, that any portion of her cargo, or any other articles or article should be placed on, or stored in, any of the decks, cabins, or other places appropriated to the use oi passengers, the same may be placed in lock CTS or enclosures prepared for the purpose, on an exterior surface impervious to the wave, ca pabe of being cleansed in like manner as the decks or platforms of the vessel. In no case, however, shall the places thus provided be deemed to be part of the space allowable for the use of passengers, 5ut the same shall be de- ducted therefrom, and in all cases where pre- pared or used, the upper surface of said lockers on enclosed spaces shall be deemed and taken to be the deck or platform from which measure ment shall be made for all the purposes of this
 
 the spaces appropriated to passengers, and sepa- rate theretrom by an appropriate partition, and furnished as its purposes require, may be pre- pared, and, when used, may be included in the space allowable for passengers, but the same shall not occupy more than 100 superficial feet of deck or platform Provided, That on board two-deck ships, where the height between the decks is seven and one half feet or more, 14 cIo rfoia1 of cho1l bo +l,o portion required for each passenger.
 2. And be it further enacted, That no such vessel shall have more than two tiers of berths, and the interval, between the lowest part thereof and the deck or platform beneath, shall not be less than inches, and the berths shall be well constructed, parallel with the sides of the vessel, and separated from each other by partitions, as berths ordinarily are separated, and shall be at least 6 feet in length and at least 2 feet in width, and each berth shall be occupied by no more than one passenger; but double berths of twice the above width may be con- structed, each berth to be occupied by no more, and by no other, than two women, or by one woman and two children under the age of eight years, or by husband and wife, or by man and two of his own children under the age of eight years, or by two men, members of the same fa- ! section in any of it's provisions, then the master Of the vessel, and the owners thereof, shall severally forfeit and pay the sum of S5 for each passenger on board of said vessel on such voy- age, to be recovered by the United States in any port where such vessel may arrive or de- part
 1 3. And be it further enacted, That all vessels, whether of the United States or ary foreign country, having sufficient capacity ol space according to law, for 50 or more passen- gers, (other than cabin passengers,) shall, when employed in transporting such passengers be- tween the United States and Europe, have, on the upper deck, for the use of such passengers house over the passage-way leading to the apartments allotted to such passengers below deck, firmly secured to the deck or combings o the hatch, with two doors, the sills of which shall be at least one foot above the deck, SC constructed, that one door or window in such house may at all times be left open for ventia uon; and all vessels so employed, and having the capacity to carry one hundred and fifty such passengers or more, shall have two such houses and the stairs or ladder, leading down to the aforesaid apartment, shall be furnished with a hand rail of wood or strong rope: but booby matches may be substituted for such houses i f. And be 1t further enacted. That every such vessel SO employed, and having the lepa] capacity for more than 100 such passengers shall have at least two ventilators to purify the apartment or apartments occupied by such pas sengers; one of which shall be inserted in the after part of the apartment or apartments, and the other shall be placed in the forward portion Of the apartment or apartments, and one o them shall have an exhausting cap to carry of the foul air, and the other receiving cap to car ry down the fresh air; which said ventilator shall have capacity proportioned to the sizt of the apartment or apartments to be purified namely: If the apartment or apartments vii lawfully authorize the reception of POO sucl passengers, the capacity of such ventilators sha each be equal to tube of 12 inches diameter in the clear, and in proportion for larger o1 smaller apartments; and all said ventilator. shall rise at least four feet six inches above tht upper deck of any such vessel, and be of tht most approved form and construction; but i | 1t shall appear from inc report to be made anC