The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-19
WASHlNCT ON.
Proceedings Of the Beard Of Supervising
Inspectors Of Steamboats,.
Efforts for the Protection Of
Life on Steam Vessels.
Efficiency Of Brooklyn Revenue Officers Off
cially Acknowledged.

0ialiy hCAuVWlCu6cus
Looping Off Useless Officers in the
Internal Revenue Service.
An Ex-Confedorate Officers Opinion Of
the Ku Klux
WASHINGTON, July 49, 1871.
Rules and Regulations for che Protection Of
Life Aboard Steamers.
The report OF the proceedings Of the Board Of
Supervising Inspectors Of Steamboats, during their
session just ended, and which lasted nearly six
weeks was to-day approved by the Secretary OF the
Treasury, and the various recommendations OF the
Board relating to the adoption of life saving appara-
us and other inventions for the better protection Of
life and property on board Of vessels propelled in
whole or in part by steam were accepted by the
Secretary. The act under which this session OF
the Board was held was passed ON the 2Sth of
February last. 1t had been pending before Con-
gross for two years. ana 1t was not until the
disastrous loss OF life and property, especially
on Western rivers, had occurred that any notice
was taken OF the bill proposing to thoroughly reform
the steamboat service and give to passengers some
on steamboats,. Heretofore the supervising lnspec.
tors, ten In number held their sessions in this city,
commencing IN the month Of January, but as there
was no recognized head to the Board the several
districts were regarded as independent Of each other
and IN the absence Of executive ofcer 10 Is won
derful that as much was accomplished as the re-
ports OF the inspectors show, especially as the old
law conferred upon them but very little authority
to enforce the needed regulations. This want
Ing the President to appoint supervising inspector
general whose duty 1t should be to preside over the
deliberations OF the Board OF Super islng Inspectors
and perform such duties as the Secretary OF the
Treasury might direct. The President appointed
Joseph BelKnap, OF New York CITY, to that position,
and when the Board met here on the 18th of June
last Mr.. Asaph 8. Bemls was chosen Secretary. the
deliberations Of the Board were confined strictly to
prescribing such rules and regulations as tho new
law provided for and to examining the various in
ventons submitted for their examination. Accom-.
nyng the report Of the proceedings was appendix
containing the new rules ana regulations, Of which
the following Is careful digest, covering all the I'M
pOrtant points,
The first twenty-four rules. regulating certificates
boring OF hulls means Of escape. steering appara-
s standing pipes 81 aS
other things pertaining to routine matters, arc the
same as IN the old rules. They have simply been re-
Under rule % commences classification Of
engineers as follOws:-uhtef engineers of ocean
steamers, chief engineers OF river steamers first,
second aud third assistant engineers and special
must carry at least one chief engineer
Rule ~ prescribed to be the duty OF the master
be- noted eyery event occuS on the
condition OF the weather and all circumstances tcnd-
to su Ing Taep sns Is
quircd to keep log book: noting anything OF
these log books shall ut all times be subject to ex-
animation by the steamboat inspectors.
The next rule of inoortancels In regard TO the
station bill. 1t Is maze the duty OF the master OF
every steamboat, Immediately after leaving port, to
make out q station bill, in which every ofacer
a saed place IN case OF a aSssne 81
esS ena sPSa ;SA 2 Ys ssa ses BE-
HIM. This station bill must be posted ub In con.
spicuous places throughout the vessel, and at least
all hands to their respective posts to PRACTISE in
order that the crew may be more efficient In case Of
actual danger either from leakage or Ore.
The chief engineer ia required to keep on account
of everything pertaining to his department. and 1t Is
made the duty Of every engineer to remain at his
scriDed to prevent engineers leaving their stations
unless duly relieved and walking away from the
feitIng license. In case licensed engineer Is
superseded In his department by another, 1t Is his
statement Of the actual condition OF the boilers and
machinery OF the vessel, as far as comes under
shall be entered also in the engineers log BOOK
belonging to the vessel. Neglect to do this Will be
deemed sufficient cause for the revocation OF the
Whenever steamboat shall be chartered for an
excursion It shall be the duty OF the Inspector to
sdat accordingly designate the number OF
capacity OF the boat particular precautlon
being taken against accidents by. Ere. On all
Western steamboats, arresters Will be required
prevent sparks from the furnace scattering about
the boat and among The freight. All lifeboats now
In use, constructed OF material complying with the
rules shall be approved for the number OF passen-
gers ana crew, according as their baoyancy WIN
boat required By law on steamers carrying passen-
gers shall be substantially Constructed Of galvanized
IRON o. not less t6aa Mo- Is wre gauge IN
will sustain in and around 1t at least thirty persons
and shall have, when filled with water, buoyancy
OF at least eight hundred pounds. Every such liie
boat shall be equipped with life lines around
the gunwales anu shall have a good rope
Than fifty feet In length. and such boats Shall be
supplied with cars complete. Tns rule reduces the
sx,y-under the old ruIe-to thirty while the car.
rylng capacity remains the same; Wooden boats
capacity to sustain fifteen persons, equipped com.
RIe.e az required for me!al lifsboa may be used
@ sv Shall be f Of coppsr
iron. rubber or -wood, combined or separate and OF
such form ~ shall be best suited to the charact NJ
the navigation, capable OF sunnortino an cafr.inv
with ljres painters cars &C. It IS provided Sir fRat
n3:s peeR Approved BY the Board Of tlfspeclofs
.-'s.s steamer navigating the ocean and lakes,
bays gulfs pr sounds OK the United States shall be
the ratio OF one metallic lleboat for every thirty per-
sons or one wooden boat for every twenty persons.
that shall he carried as passengers or employed as
crew on board Of such steam vessel, which number
Of boats shall be determined by the inspectors &C.
cordng 10 their certificate OF inspection, stating
upon It's face Inc number OF passengers permitted |
to be carried and the number or persons that shall
constitute full crew for such steamer. One.haIf
the number more OF such lebOats shall be OF the
metallic boats prescribed and the remaining num-