The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25
In Future Will Be Refused
a Permit to Carry
Passengers.
A New Ruling by the Supervis.
ing Inspectors of Huffs
and Boilers.
At Least Thirteen G isoline Schooners
Will B, Thrown Out of
Com mission.

Owners of gasoline steam schooners and
launches over fifteen tons gross burden
are in dilemma. In future they cannot
carry pa sengers, and the principal source
OF their income is thus cut off. Nearly
every one of the boats carried excursion
parties on fishing tours from various
points along the coast. Now they must
confne themselves to freight and freight
alone.
The following telegram from Supervis-
ing Inspector of Hulls and Boilers John
Birmingham. now III Washington, to In
spectors of Hulls and Boilers Bolles and
Phillips explains itself:
Gasoline engineers must pass the examina a.
tion required from all engineers under the
rules. such vessels cannot be licensed TO
carry passengers for hire or otherwise. Notify
the Poctland and Seattle boards.
When the gasoline steam schooner first
came into use she was simply classed as
sailing vessel, and nine times out of ten
the captain was also the engineer. Feb
ruary last Congress passed law making
''all vessels of above fifteen tons burden,
carrying freight or passengers for hire,
propelled by gas, tiuid, naphtha or elec-
iric motors, shall be and are hereby made
subject 10 all the provisions of section
4426 of the Revised Statutes of the United
and boilers and requiring engineers and
pilots. ~
In connection with the above the Su-
pervising Inspector General issued the
following:
Supervising and local inspectors of steam
vessels are directed TO notify the owners or
agents OF all vessels of above fifteen gross tons
within their various districts, propelled by
gas, fluid, naphtha or electric motors, en-
pioy,d in carrying freight passengers for
Ya ha olC crIh
inspection as are steam vessels and that such
vessels must also carry licensed engineer
and licensed pilot; and in case such vessels
are navigated without such inspection or run
without a licensed engineer a licensed pilot
the inspectors shall report them TO
the chief officers of customs ior prosecution.
This law was rigidly enforced, and every
one OF the big gasoline schooners that
Point Reyes, Fort Ross and other nearby
points had to employ licensed men. The
new ruling therefore came as thunder
storm out of clear sky. The supervising
inspectors have been holding their annual
meeting, and the question of gasoline
launches came up. 1t was developed that
each and all of these boats were carving
com bustbles in the shape of naphtha, ,gaso-
line etc, and consequently could not be
licensed to carry passengers. When the
decision was reached Captain Berming-
ham at once wired 10 San Francisco, and it
did not take long to reach the ears of the
parties interested.
In all there are about thirteen gasoline
schooners engaged on the coast. Many of
them, like the Moro, have been a long
time in the coast trade, while others have
just received their licenses end others
again have just come off the stocks. OF
the latter TWO are being completed for
Ross d Hewlett, but one OF them comes
under the ffteen-ton class and there i.
still time to make the other one into
steam schooner.
Among the boats that will be affected
by the new ruling will be Charlie Fairs
gasoline yacht Lucero. He will not Re
able to go on a cruise and take any guests
with him unless he ships the latter a
crew" In that event the Lucero's arti-
cles would make interesting reading, as
many prominent business men would an
pear on the shipping list as an A. B. deck
hand, cook or waiter.
I'm one sense, l suppose. the thing is all
right" said Custom-house Broker Thorn
ley yesterday. 1T will work a terrible
hardship on these men, however, and it
looks to me like class legislation. Almost
every person connected with these gaso-
line launches has his little all tied up in
them, and to refuse them license to carry
passengers means taking the bread and
butter ont of their mouths or course.
o her companie. that handle gasoline.
naphtha and coal oil have 10 put on ves-
sells. which are slated to carry com bu til