San Andreas independent., 1857-11-07


would thus be directly responsible to its peo-
ple is absolutely necessary.
sResotred, That under any circumstances, it
is necessary for this meeting to adopt, and
faithfully carry out some practicable plan to
insure greater degree of safety, comfort and
speed in all sea-going steamships navigating
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans ~
SUGGESTIONS OF TIE COMMITTEE RELATIVE TO
FURTHER LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS.
To insure grea ter degree of safety, the
committee would suggest that the laws be so
amended as to require all sea-going steamers
navigating the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, on
any route over five hundred miles in length
L. To be furnished with double engines,
whose capacity shall be regulated according
to certain grades of tonnage.
! 2. To be divided into sections, so as to make
in each vessel at least four water-tight COM
partments; from deck to keelson.
3. To have an Independent engine and boiler
on the main deck, with wreckers pump
thereto attached, capable of discharging at
/ least sixty barrels of water per minute ; this
to be in addition to the ordinary bilge and in
lection pumps, worked By the main engines
Wnen In good order.
4. To carry i'll addition to the ordinary
boats, life boats of the number, character and
capacity sufficient to float all the passengers
and crew which any vessel may by law be al
lowed to have on board.
5. To be provided with two life-preservers
for each person, made only of cork after the
most approved models, kept in accessible pla-
ces and ready for use.
| nd N rrpa or rO1nfOrt well
safety, the committee would suggest that the
laws be amended so as
l. To increase the space devoted to each
passenger, and thereby decrease the aggregate
number which now often crowd sea-gong
steamers, to the injury of health and some
times the loss of life
2 To regulate by law the quantity and quail
ity of food to be carried for both passengers
and crew.
g. To subject the food, both as to quantity
and quality, on the occasion of each trip, to a
rigid inspection, by an inspector or board of
inspectors, to be appointed and paid in the
manner most likely to secure the faithful dis
charge of the duties of the position.
A. To compel all passenger ships to greater
degree of cleanliness, by regulations in detail
embracing every part of the vessel and all its
equipments and furniture; and to secure con-
formty to such regulations by the severest
penalties, to be recovered in the name of the
United States, but one-half to be paid to the
informer.
And to insure a greater degree of speed in
the voyage between California and the Allan
tic side and thereby diminish the distance be-
tween New York and San Francisco, the COM
mittee would suggest
/. That the mail service between the Attain
tic side and California should be divided and
given to two distinct companies.
2. That twenty-one DAYS should be the max
imum time allowed for the transportation of
the mails between New York and San Fran
cisco. by either the Panama or Nicaragua
route.
T. That the pay for the mail service should
be so much for each trip, and no pay should
be earned for any trip which is not in all sea-
sons and in spite of all contingencies made
within twenty -one days from the wharf at
New York to the wharf in San Francisco and
rice eersd. Or, if this mode of mail contract
is not deemed advisable, that the pay to an
equal amount be given to the two routes, and
that bonus of one hundred thousand dollars
be given to the route which for the year shall,
i'll the aggregate of trips, make the best time.
Further the committee suggest that the
laws should provide
I L. 4 litI tucre Snlll DE 1T le;tSl TWO super
visory inspectors for the Pacific coast, ap-
pointed by the President by and with the ad-
vice of the Senate, one of whom is to have his
office at San Francisco.
I 2. That every sea-going steamer shall be
inspected on the occasion of each trip, by the
Inspector of Hulls the Inspector of Boilers.
and an Inspector of Food. The inspections
/ being not more than week, nor less than two
days before each departure of the steamer
And the certificate of inspection of each of
said officers, showing the vessel to have COM
piled with all requirements of the law, and to
be then ready for sea, to be exposed for forty
eight hours in conspicuous place on board
of the vessel previous to her departure, and
copies to be lodged in the Custom House for
for forty-eight hours before she shall be enti-
tied to clearance.
B. That any vessel attempting to 60 to sea
without faithfully submitting to such inspec-
tions, and complying in all particulars, shall
be seized summarly by the United States Mar
shal libelcd and forfeited to the Government;
and shall in no event be released on bonds, or
have her forfeiture remitted and that adyer-
tising to sail, selling tickets and other acts to
be enumerated shall be construed to mean
such an attempt to go to sea.
A. That no vessel shall ever be allowed to
change her name.
The committee recommend that committee
of - persons be appointed to prepare me-
mortal to Congress, embodying the views they
have submitted, and such others as may be
suggested; that the memorial be circulated
through the State for signatures, and laid be-
fore the coming session of Congress, at the
earliest practicable moments and they would
urge upon this meeting to call upon the peo-
pie of California to assemble in their various
counties, to respond to the action here taken,
and to request the Senators and Representa-
tives of their respective counties to support the
memorials, and to instruct our Senators and
request our Representatives in Congress to
take prompt and earnest action to secure the
speedy passage of the required laws.
Important Announcement.
The followIpp card will bo rood nv; ~