Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-20
RIVER News.

AZ tAfCA 10 dBDui oidtlOAi1lN at btAla tOAAA1
with II inches on Harpeth Shoals. Wea-
Their raw and cloudy.
The Burksyille left Paducah yesterday
for this point.
We have been informed tnat Capt. Jesse
johnson recently died in Texas. This pio-
neer boatman was long identified with the
Cumberland river trade. Our citizens will
remember him particularly as Master of the
old America, and the James johnson. w.
A. Gleaves was clerk of the former and
! VIM. Boyd of the latter.
The Evansville Courier of Sunday says:
Last evening we had the pleasure of meet
ing with our ''Phat" and jovial friend, j. B.
Parish, the great medicine man Of the Ty-
rome. The steamer Fayette brought him
along by the way Of the Evansville, Hen
derson and Nashville railroad. On account
Of his huge eorpulency, Captain Perkins
was almost afraid to register him, for fear Of
sinking his boat.
The steamer Tyrone, from the county of
"Cork," arrived last evening in place Of the
Idlewild. Her officers are Capt. Tom. Har-
mon, with Captain Gus DuSouchet, Ed. r.
Thomas and Fred. Jones, Of spine apple"
notoriety, trio of gentlemen that cannot
be excelled for their polite attention to pas
sengers. Captain Aleck Tscker, First
Mate, and Joseph Farquahar, Second Mate,
in their right places last night, when she left
at 10 o'clock for Cairo with amoderate trip.
The Evansville Courier is also informed
that the West Wind viii not revive the Pa
ducah and Nashville trade, but viii be
placed in the Hurry county combination.
THE STEAMBOAT LAw.-The Executive
Committee of the National Convention of
Steamboatmen have completed the amend
ments they desire 60 the last steamboat
law, and submitted it to the House Com
mittee on Commerce. The new bill is
greatly praised by several on the committee,
and it is believed win be reported substan-
italy as presented to them. 1t has been
prepared by practical steamboatmen from
all sections, representing the coast, lake, and
river interests. OF the II sections of the
old bill 38 are amended. Six sections per-
tain to the methods ofmsnufacture and sys-
tenn Of stamps for boiler iron or steel, the
stamps on each plate to show how it was
made and its strength, the figures TO be in
al cases far within the actual strength, and
penalties are provided to insure correctness
of representations made by the stamps
Penalties are prescribed in case the boiler
makers use defective iron and for inspect
Ors who knowingly pass defective sheet.
All boilers are to be tested before use by the
hydrostatic test, and allowed to carry three
fourths the test. The intention of all sec
tions OH boiler iron has been to insure a
higher standard of quality among manufac-
turers. The bill abolishes the low water
indicators, lookup safety gauges, and re-
cording gauges. The reason urged for this
course is that these contrivances tend to
make engineers negligent. The number
and kind of life boats, life preseryers, and
life apparatus for each class Of vessels is
prescribed.
There is a section which defines the diff !
ferent class of vessels. Passenger steamers
are those which carry any persons other
than the officers and crew and other than
employees and owners, and their families,
and servants, except ferryboats. Freight, !
tug, towing, and ferryboats, yachts, and ca
nal are each clearly defined. A passenger is |
defined to be any person carried on a
steamer other than the officers and ew, or
other than employees, owners, and their |
families and servants.
The measurement under the bill is held !
to be that of the Custom House. Doors on
steamers are to be hung in such manner
that they can be readily lifted off to serve as
floats. The water bulkheads must extend
to the deck above the line ofthe water when
the boat is loaded. There is severe restric-
tiOns upon carrying infammable articles.
Crude petroleum, camphene, benzine, nj
troglycerine, and similar articles, are pro-
hibited on passenger steamers. All boats
can carry refined petroleum that will stand
a fire test of ITO degs, but it must be stored
in such places as the Local Inspectors shall
designate in writing. All who attempt to
ship prohibited articles are liable 10 heavy
penalty.
The number Of watchmen is fixed OF
each class of vessels, from sunset to sunrise,
and the lights which must be carried are
named. The license provision is retained
for captains, engineers, mates, and pilots,
but the fees for the same are reduced one
half. Under the present law the board must
meet in Washington. The amendment !
proposes to have meetings in various parts !
Of the country, as the board itself may de- !
termine. 1t is proposed to have an Inspect |
Or-General at the head Of a new bureau of |
the Treasury, but not to have him meet |
with the board, or have power to vote on |
measures. All the rules ofthe board which |
have been found to be practicable are pro- |
posed as parts of the new law. Stringent !
provisions are inserted looking to making /
each officer responsible for the prompt dis |
charge of his own peculiar duties. Special |
care has been taken TO prepare a bill that
can be readily understood by all interested,
and the result meets with warm commend
alton from the committee. The great trou-
bic of the Board of Inspectors with the law
was its obscurity. The Executive Com !
mittee discussed the propriety of requiring
all foreign vessels navigating our harbors,
regulations which the government from
which they come imposes on American YES
sells. This, however, has not yet been put
into the bill.