The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-28
THE NEW STEAMBOAT LAW.


boats and the Protection Of Pas
sengeTs. a.-'
Under the steamboat bill which has Just
passed both Houses Of Congress, and
which Is now in the hands Of the Presl.
dent awaiting his signature, no license,
register, or enrolment Is to be granted un.
til satisfactory evidence be produced that
all the provisions Of this act have been
complied with, Among other provisions,
steamers are TO be provided with suitable
pipes and valves attached TO tho boiler
to convey steam TO the hold, and the DIFF
ierent compartments thereof, to extinguish
fire. Stoves are to be securely fastened,
and all woodwork and other equitable
substances about the boilers, Chimneys,
cookhouses, and stove-pipes exposed to
ignition shall be thoroughly shielded by
some incombustible material. Steam
pumps, or equivalent apparatus for throw.
Ing water to be kept Of all times. Loose
hay, cotton, benzine, powder, and like
dangerous articles are TO be placed beyond
danger offre from the machinery. Watch.
men arc to be kept In the cabin and on
each deck to guard against or give alarm
Of fire; a life preserver for every cabin pas.
senger to be provided, and good life pre-.
server or float for each deck or other class
passenger, to be kept in readiness Tor
immediate use; buckets filled with water,
always to lie in readiness on every steam.
boat carrying passengers on the main
deck; shall be provided with permanent
stairways and other sufficient means con-
yenient to such passengers for their es.
cape to the upper deck in case Of the
vessels sinking, or Of other accident en-.
daugering life, &c. In addition to wire
teller ropes, or iron rods, or chains, the
hulls, boilers, and other machinery are to
be thoroughly inspected; captains are to
DO examined as to their character and
skill. II they can be safely trusted with
o command, q license shall be granted
them. The qualifications Of a chief.
mate, engineer, and pilot shall be subject
to similar examination by the local
boards OF inspectors In order to carry
this act fully into execution, the ten su.
pervising inspectors now in office are 10
be continued in commission. Twelve
months after the passage Of this act, every
iron or steel plate used In the construction
Of steamboat boilers, and which shall be
subject to tensile strain, shall be inspect
cd 10 ascertain It's strength, homogeneous
ness, toughness and ability to stand the
effect Of repeated heating and cooling.
None other 10 be used. Adequate pro-
vision shall be made to prevent sparks or
flame from being driven back from
the fire doors into the vessel.
Other provisions arc made to guard
against danger, including the stoppage Of
vessels, display Of signals, lights, &c. In
the case Of loss or accident to personal
property owing TO noncompliance with
the law, passengers are TO recover dam
ages by suit. Every sea.going steamer
and every steamer navigating the great
northern or northwestern lakes and car.
rying passengers, the building Of which
shall he completed after six months from
the passage OF this act shall have not less
than three watCr.tight cross bulkheads, TO
DO made Of iron plates, sustained upon
suitable framework, and properly secured
10 the hull Of the vessel Any captain,
engineer, or pilot, or other person employ
cd In any steamboat or vessel, by whose
misconduct, negligence, or inattention to
to his or their respective duties In such
vessel, tho life of any person shRll be de-
stroyed, or In consequence Of fraud, con-
nivancc, misconduct, or violation of law
by my owner or inspector, or other pub
lie officer, the life Of any person shall BIO
destroyed, he or they shall be deemed
guilty Of manslaughter, and upon conyc-
ton thereof before any Circuit Court Of
the United States, shall be sentenced
TO confinement at hard labor for period
Of not more than ten years. The hull
and boilers Of every lerryboat, canal boat,
yacht, or other small craft Of like charac-
ter, propelled by steam, shall be inspected
under the provisions Of this act, and such
other provisions Of law for the better Sc.
curity Of lie US may be applicable to such
vessels, shall by the rules and regulations
Of the Board Of Supervising Inspectors be
required before a certificate OF inspection
shall be granted, and no such vessel shall
be navigated without a licensed pilot. In
addition to the local Board Of Inspection
now appointed by law there shall be q
local board appointed for the district Of
Puget Sound, Milwaukee, Albany, New
York, Apalachlcola, Evansville, Ind, Hu.
ron, Mich, and Marquette, the President
TO appoint a supervising inspector.general,
by and with the advice and consent OF
the Senate. All acts for the better securi.
ty Of the lives Of passengers on steam
boats arc repealed The bin Is long
one. Provision Is made for the salaries
OF officers, and fines and penalties pre-
scribed for the infraction of the law.