The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-09
OFFICIAL CITY g. COUNTY PAPER
IMPORTANT TO sTEAMBOATMEN.


both Houses and become q law, is more
careful and stringent than any one OF q
similar character heretofore enacted. Nc
license, register, or enrolment is to be grant
ed until satisfactory evidence be produced
that all the provisions of this act have been
complied with. Among other provision,
steamers are required to be provided with
suitable pipes and valves attached 10 the
boiler to convey steam to the hold, and the
oluerent compartments thereof, TO extin-
guiSh hre stoves to be securely fastened
aud all wood work and other igntAble sub
stances about the boilers, chimueys, cook
houses, and stovepipes, exposed TO ignition
thoroughly shielded by some combustible
material steam pumps, or equivalent ap-
ParStus for throwing water, to be kept ut al
times loose hay, cotton, benzine, powder,
aud like dangerous articles, are to be placed
beyond danger by FIRE from the machinery !;
watchmen to be kept in the cabin and on
each deck to guard against or give alarm of
fire life preseryer for every cabin pass
enger TO be provided, and q good life pre-
server or float for each deck or other class
passenger, to be kept in readiness for imme-
dste use buckets filed with water always
to be in readiness every steamboat carry
ing passengers on the main deck shall be
provided with permanent stairway and
other sufficient means convenient to such
passengers for their escape to the upper
deck in case of the vessel sinking or other
accident endangering l.fe, SO ; in addition
to wire uller ropes, or iron rods or chains,
hulls, boilers, or other machinery are TO be
thoroughly inspected captain TO be exam
ined as to their character and skill If they
can safely be trusted license shall be
granted. The qualifications of the chic
mate, engineer, and pilot are subject &c
similar examination by the local boards Of
inspection.
In order to carry this act full into execu-
sion the ten supervising inspectors now in
office are to be continued in commission
twelve months after its passage.
Every iron or steel plate used in the con-
struction of steamboat boilers, and which
shall be subject to a tensile strain, shall be
inspected to ascertain its strength, homo
geuerousness, toughness, and ability to with.
stand the effect of repeated heating and
cotling-none other to be used. Adequate
provision shall be made to prevent sparks
or flames ftom being driven back from the
fre-doors into the vessel.
Other provisions are made to guard
against danger, including the stoppsge oi
the vessel, disIay of signals, lights, etc,
In case of loss or accident to persona
property owing to noncompliance with the
law, passengers to recover damages by'.such
Ege.y sea-going steamer and every steam
boat navigating the great Northern OF
Northwestern lakes, carrying passengers
the building of which shsll be completed
after six months from the passage of this
act, shall have not less than three water.
tight cross bulkheads, to be made of iron
plates sustained upon suitable framework
and properly secured to the hull of the yes
sci. Any captain, engineer, pilot or other
person employed on any steamboat or yes
sci, by whose misconduct, negligence, OF
iuattention to his or their respective duties
on such vessel, the life of any person shal
be destroyed, or in consequence of fraud
conuivance, misconduct, or violation of the
law by any owner or inspector, or Other
public officer, the life of any person shall be
destroyed, he OF thev shall be deemed guilty
of mAnslaughter; and upon conviction
thereof before any circuit court of the United
States, shall be sentenced to confinement at
hard labor for period not more than ten
years. The hui! and boilers of every ferry
boat, canAl-boat, yacht, or other small craft
of like character propelled by steam, shall
be inspected under the provisions Of this
act; and such other provisions of law for
the better security of life as may be spplic-
able to such vessels, shall, by the rules and
regulations of the board Of supervising in
spectors, be required before q certificate OF
inspection shall be granted, and no such
vessel shall be navigsted without licensed
engineer and licensed pilot.
In addition to the local boards of inspect
ors now appointed by law, there shall be q
local board appointed for tins district oi
Puget Sound, Milwaukee,, Albany, New
York, Apalachicols, Evansville, Indiana
Huron, Michigan; and Marquette the
president to appoint supervising inspector
general, by and with the advice and cousen
Of the senate. All aots tor the better secur-
ity of the lives of passengers on steamboat
are repealed. The bill is long one. Pro
vision is made for the salaries of officers
and fines and penalties prescribed for in
fraction of the law.
The idea of making the pilots and engit
neers the only responsible parties on boa
is old and worn out. The captain, by thi
act, is compelled to pass an examinatiO
alongside his pilot or engineer. This
right. For who would like 10 ride with
man who did not know how to run his bos
but left it to his subordinates.
River travel is "tarnal resky, AS the wes
erner remarked, and when unprinicpled
inexperienced hands attempt to run o.
steamers, it becomes doubiy dangerous al
behooves us to take some other mode
travel or else stay at home.
There are many points in the bill whit
will bear discussion, but the general. effe
such a bill will have upon personal safe
in river travel tbs too plain to be doubted