National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-11
STEAMBOAT REGULATIONS.
Close OF the Supervising Inspectors' Con.
yeDtIon-Importaut Changes.

Inc Board OF supervising inspectors of Steam
Vessels, which began It's thirtieth annual session
on the 18th ultimo, has completed its business and
adjourned sine die. The most important work ac-
complished by the board during It's session was an
amendment to rule of the pilot rules-lake and
seaboard-which had been found to be in conflict
with the Revised Statutes, officers of United States
courts having refused toprosecue violations of the
rule because of such conflict The text of the rule
was as follows:
WHEN STEAMERS ARE APPROACHING
each other head aud head" or nearly so, II shall
be the duty of each steamer to pass to the right or
port side Of the other, and the pilot of either
steamer may be first in determining to pursue this
course, and thoreupon shall give, rs a signal Of
his intention, one short and distinct blast of his
steam whistle, which the pilot of the other
steamer shall answer promptly by similar blast
of his steam whistle aud thereupon such steamers
shall pass to the right or port side of each other
starboard of each other as not TO be considered
by pilots as meeting head and head" or
nearly so, or If the vessels approaching
right las above dreeted) is deemed unsafe by the
pilot Of either vessel the pilot first deciding
Blasts Of Rs S6 sn
other steamer shall answer promptly by two
similar blasts OF his steam whistle and they shall
other"
THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED
strikes out the words cor If the vessels nre APP
prOacnlnB encn Otuef IN buCn manner lDut pass
Ing 10 the right (as above directed( is deemed UNI
| safe by the pilot of either vessel" These words
qualified the first part Of the rule in relation to
vessels meeting head and head, giving either pilot
who might first eect to do SO the right to deviate
from the insrucioHste pass to the right or star
board which was contrary TO rule is, section 4995,
Revised Statutes, which reads: III two vessels
| under steam are meeting so as to involve
risk ofcoision, the helms Of both shall be put to
port so that each may pass on the port side of the
other" The diagrams of situations printed in the
pilot rules were changed TO conform to the amend
ments made in the rule.
AN IMPORTANT CHANGE
was made in rule IS of the rules and regulations
relating to ife-boats river passenger steamers
other than those navigating the Red River OF the
North and riyers whose waters flow into the Gulf
of Mexico. Under the rules as amended the num-
her of boats required will be governed by the tom
mage. In addition TO the one boat required by
Steamers under 100 tons, boat; between 100 and
900 tons, 2 boats; between 100 and 800 tons,
Setw S1weSS eco S SGS %S S to 400
between 500 and 600 tons, boats; between 1000
and LOO tons, boats between 1000 and 1000
between $500 and 5000 tons, 10 boats; the boats 10
be 20 feet in length, feet in breadth, and feet In
depth, and of sixty passenger capacity. II IL pro-
| Vided that where smaller boats may be desired
| the capacity must be made up by an increased
nu mber of boats to the aggregate capacity Of the
boats required by the rule. 1t was also decided
that
NO STEAMER SHALL he OBLIGED
TO carry more boats than is necessary to carry the
| the passengers, including the officers and crew,
which she may be licensed TO carry by her certih-
| cate of inspection rule was adopted requiring
all small boats placed ON steamers after July j,
| 1852, TO be furnished with automatic plugs. Also
rule defining the strength of the fat surfaces OF
boilers, strength of stays, and formulas for de.
teTnlning the strength Of lap-welded and pivoted
flues. Changes were made in phraseolOgy OF
many existing rules, and some few were stricken
out entirely. The sessions of the board were har
moniOus throughout and upon adiourning reso-
lutions were passed COmpimenting the presiding
officer, Inspector; General Dnmont, and Secretary
u, o. Carr, supervising Inspector for the sixth dis