Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-20
WASHINGTON.
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR STEAM
VESSELS,

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR STEAM
VESSELS.
WAsHINGToN, August 19.-The Sec
retary OF the Treasury has issued q
circular to the collectors OF customs
and inspectors Of steam vessels rela-
tive to the PRONUNCIATION act Of Con.
gress relative 70 steam vessels, and
rules and regulations adopted by
the Board Supervising Inspectors, in
which he says:
The Department takes occasion to
enioin upon collectors and inspectors
the Importance regarding prompt and
strict compliance with all provisions
and acts of Congress, and rules and
regulations now to be promulgated,
upon the part of all concerned. Said
act and rules now being in full force
and effect. Your attention is also in
vited to section fifty Of the act OF July
18th, 1870, regarding every steamer
carrying passengers, 10 be supplied
with at least two copies Of that act,
and the necessity of early supplying
such steamers Herewith.
Supervising inspectors are directed
to issue such instructions to their re-
spective local boards as they may
deem necessary, TO insure the prompt
enforcement of the provisions Of the
new steamboat law, and rules and
regulations adopted in accordance
Herewith.
A circular has also been issued to
supervising and local inspectors of
steam vessels, announcing that the
Department Is now supplying local
inspectors with bound copies of blank
certificates for masters, mates and en-
gineers Of inferior grades, and proper
instructions are given concerning new
series of licenses thereto.
REPORT IN REGARD 10 EXPLOSION OF
THE wEsTFIELD.
The Board Of Inspectors sent by
Secretary Boutwell, 10 inquire into the
case of the Westfeld explosion, have
made report, in which they say:
The explosion, In our opinion, was
caused by q detective sheet In the
lower side Of the boiler In which
there was a flaw, portion of which
no doubt existed at the time Of con-
structing the boiler, and could not
have been discovered by any internal
inspection. We believe the explosion
was produced by pressure not much
In excess Of twenty-seven pounds.
Engineer Robinson was guilty of
direct and willful violation OF the law
in carrying more steam than the In
spectOr's certificate called for, and
Superintendent Bradsted had the
responsibility of employing all
the hands, including the en-
gineers, and 1t is but right that
he should share the responsibility of
the explosion with the engineer. We
have no doubt that Inspector Mathews
had his, cOnscientiOusly. We would
suggest that no person be licensed for
the position Of engineer that can not
read and write; and in order to insure
strict conformity to the requirements
Of the Inspectors certificate, in refer
ence to amount of working pressure
allowed, responsibility, we think,
should be thrown entirely on the en-.
gineer In charge; and that the carrying
of steam in excess of that allowed be
sufficient cause for the revocation of
his license. And on each vessel pro.
PEELED in whole or in part by steam,
carrying passengers, there should be
some individual held responsible as
master, aud not, as in the case Of our
various ferries, one name appearing as
master Of all the boats of the Com
pany. AS regards the material used
in the construction Of maine boilers,
we think that ample provisions have
been made for the future In steamboat
law, approved February 18th, 1871.