Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-02
PROTECTING TRAVELLERS
The Bill for the Regulation Of Steamboats,,
as Passed by Both Houses Of Congress-.

WASHINGTON, February 24-Tht
steamboat bill which has passed both
Houses Of Congress and awaits the
Presidents signature, IS more careful
and stringent than any one Of a SINH
lar character heretofore enacted. No
license, register or enrolment is to be
granted until satisfactory evidence be
produced that all the provisions of
this act have been complied with.
Among other provisions, steamers are
required to be provided with suitable
pipes and valves attached to the boiler
10 convey steam to the hold, and the
different compartments thereof, to ex-
tinguish fire. Stoves are to be securely
fastened, and all woodwork and other
ignitable substances about the boilers.
chimneys, cOok-hOUses and stove.
pipes exposed to ignition shall be
thoroughly shielded by some incOm-
bUstlble material. Steam pumps, or
equivalent apparatus for throwing wa
ter, to be kept at all times. Loose
hay, cotton, benZine, powder and like
dangerous articles are to be placed
beyond danger OF the fire from
the machinery. Watchmen are to
be kept in the cabin and on each
deck to guard against or give alarm
of fire; Il h~fe-preserver for every cabin
passenger to be provided, and a good
Ife-preserver or float for each deck or
other class passenger, to be kept in
readiness for immediate use; buckets
filed with water, always to lie in
readiness on every steamboat carrying
passengers on the main deck; shall be
provided with permanent stairWays
and other sufficient means convenient
to such passengers for their escape to
the upper deck in case of the vessels
sinking, or of other accident endan-
gering Life, etc. In addition to wire
tiller ropes, or iron rods, or chains.
the hulls, boilers and other machinery
are to be thoroughly inspected; cap
tains r to be examined as to their
character and skill. If they can safely
be trusted with a command, a license
shall be granted them. The qualif-
cations Of a chief mate, engineer and
pilot shall be subject to a similar ex-
animation by the local boards of in
spectOTs. In order to carry this act
fully into execution, the tenssupervis-
ing inspectors nov in Office are to
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 a tensile strain, shall be in
spected to ascertain its strength, hO-
mogeneousness, tOughness and ability
to withstand the effect of repeated
heating and cooling. None other to-I
be used. Adequate provision shall
be made to prevent sparks of flame
from being driven back from the fire
doors into the vessel. Other prOvi-
sions are made to guard against dam
ger, including the stoppage Of vessels,
display Of signals, lights, etc. In the
case of loss or accident to personal
property owing to Noncompliance
with the law, passengers are TO re-
cover damages by suit. Every sea-
going steamer and every steamer nav
the great northern or north
western lakes and carrying passen-
gers, tae building of which shall be
completed after six months from the /
passage of this act shall have not less /
than three water-tight cross bulk
to be made Of iron plates, sus-
UpOa suitable framework, and
properly secured to the hull of
the vessel. Any captain, engineer,
pilot, or other person
employed in any steamboat or vessel,
by whose misconduct, negligence or
nattention to his or their respective
1unes n1 such vessel, the life Of any
shall be destroyed, or in cOnse-
luence OF fraud, cOnnivance, miscon-
tuct or violation of law by any owner
inspector, or other public officer,
he hfef Of any person shall be de-
itrOyed he or they shall be deemed
of manslaughter, and upon
,Onvicti on thereof before any Circuit
court OF the United States shall be
Ientencd to confinement at hard
8bOr for a period OfnOt more than ten
Years. The hull and boilers Of every
errybost, canal boat, yacht, or other