New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-07-20
CUsroa HoUsr, 1oulsvlllr, Krrrpotv.

through loose habits of business, shippers and car
riers are almost daily rendering themselves liable
of Congress approved August 30, 1852, amendatory
of the act of 1898 tro provide for the better Sc
eurity of the lives of passengers board of yes
| sells propelled in whole or part by steamr The
amendatory act il known commonly as ''the Steam
boat Law Of August 80, 1872 Ii has been long
in foroe-at least oonstruetiyely-ha had very
extensive pubiicity-and its provisions ought to be
familiar to of business generally and especially
/ well known TO shippers and carriers.
That they are not thus known, or. if thus
| known, are most culpably disTegarded, | have
almost daily evidence. This is particularly the
case with reference TO certain articles Of mer.
chandlse, the transportation OF which, on steam
| boats, is assumed by the law and believed By pas
| sengers to produce extra hazards of life, And
| have thought that plain, brief presentation OF
those portions Of the law that bear di
rectlg upon the articles in question laid
before the beard of trade, might be ap-
precated, and perhaps be Of service 10 that class
Of business men generally, against some of whom
| It has become my duty to institute legal proceed
| ngs. ! address this communication to you in the
| belief that you will make of it that disposition
/ which will be likely to render it of most use.
The primary object OF the law under view is
the preservation OF human life. 70 render the
| lives of passengers on steamboats, more secure it
/ therefore enacts that certain articles of merGhan-
| disc combustibIes and explosive in their nature,
4 shall not be carried on steamboats, that convey
passengers except under special license, and with
! The 9TH section of the act, for example, en-
tirely prohibits the carrying of loose hemp on
such vessels, and permits haled hemp to be car
red on the deck or guards thereof when it is com
| psetly pressed and well covered with bagging or
similar fabric.
The same section of the law prohibits the car
| ryng on such steamboats,, as freight, of "gun.
| powder, oil Of turpentine, oil of yttriol, cam
| phene, or other explosive burning fluids mate
! rails which ignite by iriGtion,A without the pro.
| CurnOhpt of a - gOppjal license That
| pose.'
Tie ninth section of the law, in its fifth clause.
provides that upon the application Of the master
| or owner of any steamer for q license to carry
such articles Of either Of them, the local inspect
OTIS shall examine such vessel, and if they find
that she is provided with chests safes composed
"t metal, or entirely lined herewith, or has one
o more apartments thoroughly lined with metal
ut secure distance from any fire, they may grant
certificate to that effect, authorizing such vessels
to carry as freight any Of the articles aforesaid
those OF each description to be secured in such
chest safe or apartment, containing no other
article, and carried at distance from any fire.
In circular from the treasury department
dated April q. 1866, the secretary adds to the ar
hcles above enumerated, the transportation OF
which requires special license. crude petroleum
naptha, benzne and benzole,' y basing the addition
upon ''eareful consideration and the reports Of
practical CHEMISTS
All the articles enumerated can be kept on board
such vessels as stores,n ii secured in metallic
Penalty for each violation Of the provisions
Of this act cited, $780, to BE- recovered by action
of debt.
The penalty for violation of this provision, as
also for shipping the articles enumerated unless
packed and marked as aforesaid, on board OF
any steam vessel carrying passengers is liable
70 be deemed guilty Of misdemeanor, or pun
ished by fine not exceeding $1,000, or imprison
ment not exceeding eighteen months, or both.n
1t may not be improper for me to add that the
law which imposes a penalty fer changing the
master of steamboat without due notice and in
dorsement is almost as habitpally violated as the
law above named.
And the law concerning the delivery of imported
goods (ol foreign production and manufacture, is
quite as often disregarded as either
EnJoined as am BY the acts of Congress, and
by the Chief OF the department to which belong |
to enforce the provisions of the laws IN question
and institute proper proceedings for the recovery
OF the penalty OF the violation Of each, shall il
no case hereafter hesitate to discharge the duties
deYolyed upon me. Respectfully,
". D, GALLAGHER,
Surveyor OF Customs etc.
MEMPHIS July 1.-THE weather yesterday was
warm and cloudy, witha refreshing rain The river
here is declining steadily.
The Gnid0n reports slight rise in the Arkansas |
at Little Rock, but the rise will have no effect in
the lower part of the river. There is 81 feet on
the bars TO Little Rock. The Petrolia reports |
slight rise in White river.
Black river is getting low, there being but four
feet in the channel. The river at St. Louis con
tinues to decline. The Ohio at Pitsburg on Sat I
nrday, was falling, with 80 inches in the channel /
At Cincinnati it was falling with feet in the |
channel, and Al on the bars between Cincinnati
ana louisville. There was scant feet in the |
canal, with feet on the bars in the lower Ohio
Cumberland river has returned to its summer
stage, with rs inches on the shoals, which closes
out the boating season until September.
The weather yesterday was sultry and cloudy,
and, toward evening, we were visited with q fine
shower of rain, which cooled the atmosphere con
siderably.
There were but few arrivals outside of the reg
1lar packets.
Business on the landing was much better than
On any day during last week.
There Is fine stage of water in the Mississippi
rom Cairo to New Orleans. The packets reportI
10 feet on the bars. Plum Point is getting trouble
some to down steamboats,. The river at Pittsburg
8 getting down to low water mark, with only IS
inches in the channel. Several boats were reported
aground in the upper Ohio on the 18th. The nav
cation OF the lower Ohio ia also getting bad and
Down steamboats, heavily laden ex-
perence much trouble with the prominent bars.
CINCINNATI, July 1.-THE weather Was clear !
ana warm yesterday. At Pittsburg the river is
aiilng, with u feetin the channel. The KanaWha
8 falling, with feet inches in the channel At
his point the river is receding very slowly with
Get OF the shoalest bars to Louisville, with feet
n the canal and one-half foot on the falls. The
cumberland is falling, with IS inches on the
hoas. The lower Ohio is falling with feet on
he bars.
I LOUISVILLE, July 1.-THE river was falling
ather slowly yesterday, with four feet water in
he canal in the evening by the mark. During the /
revous twentyfour hours it had fallen two inches
y the head of the falls and six inches at Portland
The weather continues dry and warm, the thermo.
meter getting up to 50 in the shade in the after
oon. :
On the falls there were twenty-fonr inches /
rater in the pass down the Indian chute, and /
lowly falling at dark.
The river at Cincinnati yesterday was falling
cry slowly, the late swell from the upper tributa-
les having reached the decline. 4
Theriver at Pittsburg is getting down to low 4
'ater mark, with only three and half feet water G
! the channel yesterday morning. Several boats t
ere aground at divers points, and the Columbia l
ad departed for St. Lonis. IA
Orr special dispatches in another column furnish 4
lie latest information in regard to the stage of |
alter at all points, +
The navigation Of the Lower Ohio is beginning Z
be much restricted and the sand bars prominent,
Tough as yet the boats plying TO lower ports man I
&c to get along without grounding.
The Nick Longworth, Capt Alex. Irwin, depart
TO New Orleans last evening with good trip /
'r the season of the year She had considerable {
trough freight, including heavy consignments of
otatoes, onions and cabbages. I
MARY PoR MoBILE.-The splendid new low I
ressure passenger packet Mary, Capt A. L. !
Iyers, commander leaves as above from the !
AXE end of the Pontchartrain railroad at 70 /
T. to-day. Agent. G. Harris, corner of Camp I
md Common streets.
ALEX SPEFp pnp ppr De. MT.