ACTS OF CONGRESS
RELATING TO
STEAMBOATS.
COLLATED WITH THE ROLLS AT WASHINGTON.
BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY.
BUFFALO: DERBY & CO. PITTSBURGH: W. S. HAVEN. CINCINNATI: H. W.
DERBY & CO. CHICAGO: A. H. & C. BURLEY. NEW ORLEANS: J. B. STEELE.
1853.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
CAMBRIDGE:
STEREOTYPED BY METCALF AND COMPANY,
PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.




ADVERTISEMENT.
THIS collection of the Acts of Congress relating to Steamboats contains the following Acts —
PAGE
An Act respecting the Enrolling and Licensing of Steamboats.
March 12, 1812......... 39
An Act to authorize the Register or Enrolment and License to
be issued in the Name of the President or Secretary of any
incorporated Company owning a Steamboat or Vessel. March
3, 1825............   37
An Act to provide for the better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by
Steam. July 7, 1838......... 29
An Act to modify the Act entitled " An Act to provide for the
better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by Steam," approved July
7, 1838. March 3, 1843.......,     35
An Act making Appropriations for Lighthouses, Lighboats,
Buoys, &c., and providing for the Erection and Establishment
of the same, and for other Purposes. March 3, 1849... 34
An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the
better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by Steam," and for other
Purposes. August 30, 1852.......  1
As we are the official publishers of the Acts of Congress, its accuracy may be implicitly relied on. It is published for the use of the
many persons interested in the navigation and construction of steamboats. The Index will be found to be very copious.
LITTLE, BROWN & CO.
BOSTON, September, 1852.




ADVERTISEMENT.
THIS collection of the Acts of Congress relating to Steamboats contains the following Acts —
PAGE
An Act respecting the Enrolling and Licensing of Steamboats.
March 12, 1812......... 39
An Act to authorize the Register or Enrolment and License to
be issued in the Name of the President or Secretary of any
incorporated Company owning a Steamboat or Vessel. March
3, 1825............   37
An Act to provide for the better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by
Steam. July 7, 1838......... 29
An Act to modify the Act entitled " An Act to provide for the
better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by Steam," approved July
7, 1838. March 3, 1843.......,     35
An Act making Appropriations for Lighthouses, Lighboats,
Buoys, &c., and providing for the Erection and Establishment
of the same, and for other Purposes. March 3, 1849... 34
An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the
better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by Steam," and for other
Purposes. August 30, 1852.......  1
As we are the official publishers of the Acts of Congress, its accuracy may be implicitly relied on. It is published for the use of the
many persons interested in the navigation and construction of steamboats. The Index will be found to be very copious.
LITTLE, BROWN & CO.
BOSTON, September, 1852.




ACTS OF CONGRESS RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.
STEAMBOAT ACT OF AUGUST 30, 1852.
CHAPTER 106.
An Act to amend an Act entitled " An Act to providefor the better Security of the Lives
of Passengers on board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by Steam," and for
other Purposes.*
SECTION.                               SECTION.
1. No papers to issue to any steam-        and their accommodations to be
boat carrying passengers till the      inspected at least yearly. Inspecprovisions of this act are com-        tors may direct steamboats to be
plied with. Penalty for navigat-       put in motion. Second. Inspecing such steamboats without com-       tion of boilers. Pressure to which
plying with the provisions of this     they are to be subjected. Provisact.                                  ions respecting the flues, materi2. Precautions against fire.               als, fire-line, water-line, safety3. Provision as to pumps and hose.         valves, gauge-cocks, fusible plugs.
4. Provision as to boats.                   Third. Mode of subjecting boilers
5. Provision for life-preservers, floats,  to hydrostatic pressure. Degree
axes, and buckets.                     of pressure to be allowed.  Certi6. Access to the upper deck.               fled pressure not to be exceeded.
7. Provisions respecting carrying cer-     Fourth. Form  of certificate of
tain dangerous articles. License       inspectors.  To be signed and
required.  Penalty for violation       sworn to. Reasons to be given
of the provisions.                     in writing when certificate is re8. Same subject. Penalty for putting       fused. Fifth. License to carry
up for shipment or shipping said       gunpowder and other enumerated
articles.                              dangerous articles. License may
9. Appointment of an inspector of          be revoked. Sixth. Record to be
hulls and an inspector of boilers      kept of all certificates of inspecin  certain  designated districts.     tion, whether of approval or disTheir qualifications.  Their du-       approval, licenses, and revocaties. First. Hulls of steamboats       tions. Originals to be delivered to
* The act of which this is an amendment will be found post, p. 29. The other
acts of Congress relative to the subject of steamboats are the acts of 1812, ch. 40,
post, p. 39; of 1825, ch. 99, post, p. 37; of 1843, ch. 94, post, p. 35; of 1849, ch.
105, ~ 5, post, p. 34.
1




ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. SEcTION.                                SECTION.
the collector. Report to be made    12. Penalty for allowing the water to
of all their doings to the super-      fall in the boiler within three
vising inspector.  Seventh. Pilots     inches above the flue.  a
and engineers to be licensed and    13. Boilers to be hereafter made of
classified. Eighth. Examination         stamped plates.
and classification of engineers.   14. IExamination  of  boiler-plates.
Ninth.  Examination of pilots.          Qualities of material required.
Licenses of engineers and pilots   15. Boiler-plates to be stamped with
revocable. Appeal from refusal          name of manufacturer, &c.
to grant a certificate of inspection    16. Penalty for making or using boilor a license.  Tenth. Employ-           ers made hereafter of unstamped
ment of unlicensed engineers or         materials.
pilots forbidden (except in cer-   17. Penalty for counterfeiting such
tain cases of necessity), under a       stamps, and  for false stamps.
penalty. Eleventh. Other inspec-        Person using stamp of another to
tions than said annual ones to be       be liable.
made. Inspector may then make    18. Nine supervising inspectors to be
further requirements.   Appeal          appointed.  Their qualifications.
from such requirements. Penalty         Their pay and expenses.  To
for navigating steamers in disre-       meet at least yearly, and to estabgard of such requirements. Where       lish rules and assign limits. Travrepairs may be made.  How far           elling expenses.  Transportation
boards of inspectors are bound by       of instruments.  Secretary of the
the acts of other boards. Twelfth.      Treasury to pay them and the loInspection of steamers in districts     cal inspectors.
where there is no local board of   19. Duties of the supervising inspecinspectors. Thirteenth. Power to       tors. Masters, engineers, and pisummon and compel attendance            lots required to answer their quesof witnesses. Examination with         tions and give information.
a view to revocation or suspen-   20. Supervising inspectors to report
sion of licenses. Fees of wit-         to the local boards violations of
nesses. Paid out of the revenues        this law, and to report failures of
provided in this act. Fourteenth.      the local board to do its duty.
Board of inspectors to report all       Removal of delinquent inspector.
their doings to the chief officer of   21. Supervising inspectors to superthe customs, and also all omis-         vise the local boards.
sions or refusals to comply with   22. Inspection in districts where there
the law. Fifteenth. Pilots, engi-      is no local board, or it is inconneers, and mates to assist inspec-      venient to resort to it. No intors in their examinations, to point    spector to act in any case where
out imperfections, and to notify        he is interested or associated in
them  of serious accidents.  In         business  with those interested.
default thereof, licenses may be        Inspections by interested inspecrevoked.                                tor to be void.
10. Provisions respecting the number   23. Collectors to report to each other
of passengers, their food and ac-       names of persons licensed, or recommodations, and detentions on         fused a license, or whose licenses
the voyage.  Penalties.  Vessel         have been revoked or suspended,
to be released on giving bond.          and tile names of vessels violat11. Penalty for obstructing or derang-      ing this act.
ing the means of regulating or   24. Collectors, &c. and  inspectors to
indicating the pressure of steam        enforce this law under penalty of
or approach of danger.                 loss of office and a fine.




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                                               3
SEcnoN,                                 SECTION.                                     30, 1852.
25. Original certificates of inspection     vide instruments for testing the
to be kept by the collector, and        strength of boilers.
two certified copies to be made    35. List of passengers to be kept, and
out, one of which must be kept          to be open to inspection. Penposted in a conspicuous place in        alty for neglect to keep said list.
the steamer. Penalty for receiv-        This penalty, and that for excess
ing or carrying passengers where        of passengers, to be a lien on the
the copy is not so kept posted, or      vessel. Bond maybe given.
where said dangerous articles are   36. Two copies of this act to be furcarried without a license and a         nished to each steamer. Penalty
certified copy thereof kept posted,     for unreasonably refusing to exor are stowed in an unauthorized        hibit them  to passengers, or not
manner.                                 keeping them on board.
26. Penalty for false certificate by in-   37. Inspectors who receive any fees
spector.                                or rewards for their services
27. Penalty for navigating a vessel         except those prescribed in this
not conforming to the require-          act, to lose their offices, and to be
ments of the certificate.  Excep-       fined or imprisoned, or both.
tion in cases of deficiency from    38. Pilots and engineers to take an oath
dangers of navigation, if supplied      before an inspector before enteras soon as practicable.                 ing on the duties of their office.
28. When the navigation of rivers be-       Penalty for perjury of witnesses.
comes dangerous from  fog, &c.,   39. The  supervising  inspectors to
or accident to the machinery, the       gather information  on  certain
steamer to be stopped. If the           points relating  to  steamboats,
commander elects to proceed, he         and to transmit the same to the
and the owners made liable for          Secretary of the Treasury.
all damage to  passengers  or   40. Secretary to cause interrogatories
their baggage.                          calculated to elicit information on
29. Supervising  board  to  establish       those points to be prepared and
rules for passing. Printed copies       published, and to report the rethereof to be furnished and kept        suit to Congress with his own
posted in every steamer.  In case       recommendations on the subject.
of violation or neglect of such    41. Penalties under this act how sued
rules, delinquent made liable for       for and recovered.
damage, and to be fined, and the    42. This act not to apply,-l. to pubvessel not justified in case of col-   lic vessels of the United States, 2.
lision.                                 to vessels of other countries, 3. to
30. Liability for damage to passen-         steamers used as ferry-boats, tuggers or their baggage.                  boats, towing-boats, nor to steam31. Fees for certificates of inspection     ers of not more than one hundred
and licenses.  To whom  paid.           and fifty tons used in whole or in
To be accounted for quarterly,          part on canals. Inspection and
and paid into the Treasury.             certificate of ocean mail steamers
32. Each inspector to keep a record         convertible into war steamers to
of all his doings, and report the       be made by a chief engineer of the
same to the collector on the first      Navy. Report to be made by
days of each May and Novem-             him  to Secretary of the Navy
ber.                                    and the district supervising in33. Salaries of the district inspec-        spector.
tors.                              43. When this act is to take effect.
34. Secretary of the Treasury to pro-   44. Repeal of inconsistent acts.




4                               ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852.  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
No papers to of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
issue to any  no license, register, or enrolment, under the provisions of this
steamboat carrying passen- or the act to which this is an amendment, shall be granted,
provisions of or other papers issued by any collector, to any vessel prothis at reth pelled in whole or in part by steam, and carrying passengers,
until he shall have satisfactory evidence that all the proPenalty for visions of this act have been fully complied with; and if any
steamboatng   such vessel shall be navigated, with passengers on board,
withpassengers without complying with the terms of this act, the owners
without such
compliance. thereof and the vessel itself shall be subject to the penalties
Post, p. 29.  contained in the second section of the act to which this is
an amendment.
Precautions SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
against fire. duty of the inspectors of the hulls of steamers, and the inspectors of boilers and engines, appointed under the provisions of this act, to examine and see that suitable and safe
provisions are made throughout such vessel to guard against
loss or danger from fire; and no license or other papers, on
any application, shall be granted, if the provisions of this act
for preventing fires are not complied with, or if any combustible material liable to take fire from heated iron, or any
other heat generated on board of such vessels in and about
the boilers, pipes, or machinery, shall be placed at less than
eighteen inches distant from such heated metal or other substance likely to cause ignition, unless a column of air or water intervenes between such heated surface and any wood or
other combustible material so exposed, sufficient at all times,
and under all circumstances, to prevent ignition; and further, when wood is so exposed to ignition, as an additional
preventive, it shall be shielded.by some incombustible material in such manner as to leave the air to circulate freely
between such material and the wood. Provided, however,
May be va- That when the structure of such steamers is such, or the artied from, when
impracticable. rangement of the boilers or machinery is such, that the requirements aforesaid cannot, without serious inconvenience
or sacrifice, be complied with, inspectors may vary therefrom,
if in their judgment it can be done with safety.
Provision as  SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That every vessel so
to pumps.




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                          5
propelled by steam, and carrying passengers, shall have not Aug. 30, 1852.
less than three double-acting forcing-pumps, with chamber
at least four inches in diameter, two to be worked by hand
and one by steam, if steam can be employed, otherwise by
hand; one whereof shall be placed near the stern, one near
the stem, and one amidship; each having a suitable, wellfitted hose, of at least two thirds the length of the vessel, Hose.
kept at all times in perfect order and ready for immediate
use; each of which pumps shall also be supplied with water
by a pipe connected therewith, and passing through the side
of the vessel, so low as to be at all times in the water when
she is afloat: Provided, That, in steamers not exceeding two
hundred tons measurement, two of said pumps may be dispensed with; and in steamers of over two hundred tons, and
not exceeding five hundred tons measurement, one of said
pumps may be dispensed with.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That every such vessel, Provisions as
carrying passengers, shall have at least two good and suit- to boats.
able boats, supplied with oars, in good condition at all times
for service, one of which boats shall be a life-boat made of
metal, fire-proof, and in all respects a good, substantial, safe
sea-boat, capable of sustaining, inside and outside, fifty persons, with life-lines attached to the gunwale, at suitable
distances. And every such vessel of more than five hundred
tons, and not exceeding eight hundred tons measurement,
shall have three life-boats; and every such vessel of more
than eight hundred tons, and not exceeding fifteen hundred
tons measurement, shall have four life-boats; and every such
vessel of more than fifteen hundred tons measurement shall
have six life-boats; —all of which boats shall be well furnished with oars and other necessary apparatus: Provided, Proviso.
however, The inspectors are hereby authorized to exempt
steamers navigating rivers )only from the obligation to carry
of the life-boats herein provided for more than one, the same
being of suitable dimensions, made of metal and furnished
with all necessary apparatus for use and safety, - such steamers having other suitable provisions for the preservation of
life in case of fire or other disaster.
SEc. 5. And be it further enacted, That every such vessel, fProvisioner
1 *




6                               ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. carrying passengers, shall also be provided with a good lifeers, axes, buck- preserver, made of suitable material, or float well adapted
ets.       to the purpose, for each and every passenger, which lifepreservers and floats shall always be kept in convenient and
accessible places in such vessel, and in readiness foi the use
of the passengers; and every such vessel shall also keep
twenty fire-buckets and five axes; and there shall be kept
on board every such vessel exceeding five hundred tons
measurement buckets and axes after the rate of their tonnage, as follows: on every vessel of six hundred tons measurement, five buckets and one axe for each one hundred
tons measurement, decreasing this proportion as the tonnage
of the vessel increases, so that any such vessel of thirty-five
hundred tons, and all such vessels exceeding the same,
shall not be required to keep but three buckets for each
one hundred tons of measurement, and but one axe for
every five buckets.
Access to the   SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That every such vessel
upper deck.
carrying passengers on the main or lower deck shall be provided with sufficient means convenient to such passengers
for their escape to the upper deck, in case of fire or other
accident endangering life.
Provisions    SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That no loose hemp
reySing certain  shall be carried on board any such vessel; nor shall baled
dangerousarti- hemp be carried on the deck or guards thereof, unless the
cles.
bales are compactly pressed and well covered with bagging,
or a similar fabric; nor shall gunpowder, oil of turpentine,
oil of vitriol, camphene, or other explosive burning-fluids or
materials which ignite by friction, be carried on board any
License re- such vessel, as freight, except in cases of special license for
quired.    that purpose, as hereinafter provided; and all such articles
kept on board as stores shall be secured in metallic vessels:
and every person who shall knowingly violate any of the
Penalty.   provisions of this section shall pay a penalty of one hundred dollars for each offence, to be recovered by action of
debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Provisions    SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That hereafter all gunrespecting cer- uspowder, oil of turpentine, oil of vitriol, camphene, or other
tain dangcles explosive burning-fluids and materousals which ignite by fricarticles.  explosive burning-fluids and materials which ignite by fric



RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                          7
tion, when packed or put up for shipment on board of any Aug. 30, 1852.
such vessel, shall be securely packed or put up separately
from each other and from all other articles, and the package,
box, cask, or vessel containing the same shall be distinctly
marked on the outside with the name or description of the
articles contained therein; and every person who shall pack
or put up, or cause to be packed or put up, for shipment on
board of any such vessel, any gunpowder, oil of turpentine,
oil of vitriol, camphene, or other explosive burning-fluids or
materials which ignite by friction, otherwise than as aforesaid, or shall ship the same, unless packed and marked as
aforesaid, on board of any steam-vessel carrying passengers,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished by
a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment Penalty.
not exceeding eighteen months, or both.
SEc. 9. And be it further enacted, That instead of the  Provision
for the appointexisting provisions of law for the inspection of steamers ment of two inand their equipment, and instead of the present system of p  ectsicer
pilotage of such vessels, and the present mode of employ- districts.
ing engineers on board the same, the following regulations
shall be observed, to wit: The collector or other chief officer
of the customs, together with the supervising inspector for
the district, and the judge of the District Court of the United
States for the district, in each of the following collection districts, -namely, New Orleans and St. Louis, on the Mississippi River; Louisville, Cincinnati, Wheeling, and Pittsburg, on the Ohio River; Buffalo and Cleveland, on Lake
Erie; Detroit, upon Detroit River; Nashville, upon the
Cumberland River; Chicago, on Lake Michigan; Oswego, on Lake Ontario; Burlington, in Vermont; Galveston,
in Texas; Mobile, in Alabama; Savannah, in Georgia;
Charleston, in South Carolina; Norfolk, in Virginia; Baltimore, in Maryland; Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania; New
York, in New York; New London, in Connecticut; Boston, in Massachusetts; Portland, in Maine; and San Francisco, in California, - shall designate two inspectors, of
good character and suitable qualifications, to perform Their qualifications.
the services required of them  by this act, within the respective districts for which they shall be appointed, one




8                                ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. of whom, from his practical knowledge of ship-building,
and the uses of steam  in navigation, shall be fully competent to make a reliable estimate of the strength, seaworthiness, and other qualities of the hulls of steamers and
their equipment, deemed essential to safety of life, when
such vessels are employed in the carriage of passengers, to
One to be  be called the Inspector of Hulls; the other of whom, from
called Inspector of Hulls.  his knowledge and experience of the duties of an engineer
employed in navigating vessels by steam, and also in the
construction and use of boilers, and the machinery and appurtenances therewith connected, shall be able to form a reliable opinion of the quality of the material, the strength,
form, workmanship, and suitableness of such boilers and
machinery to be employed in the carriage of passengers,
without hazard to life, from imperfections in the material,
The other to workmanship, or arrangement of any part of such apparatus
be called Inspector of Boil- for steaming, to be called the Inspector of Boilers; and
ers.       these two persons thus designated, if approved by the SecApproval of retary of the Treasury, shall be, from the time of such desigappointment. nation, inspectors, empowered and required to perform  the
duties herein specified, to wit: —
Provision for  First.  Upon application in  writing by the master or
the inspection
of the hull Of owner, they shall, once in every year at least, carefully insteamboats car- spect the hull of each steamer belonging to their respective
rying passengers at least  districts and employed in the carriage of passengers. and
yearly.     shall satisfy themselves that every such vessel so submitted
to their inspection is of a structure suitable for the service
in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for her crew and passengers, and is in a condition to
warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation as a
steamer, with safety to life, and that all the requirements
of law in regard to fires, boats, pumps, hose, life-preservers,
floats, and other things, are faithfully complied with; and
Inspectors if they deem it expedient, they may direct the vessel to be
may direct the
steamboat tobe put in motion, and may adopt any other suitable means to
put in motion. test her sufficiency and that of her equipment.
Inspection of  Second. They shall also inspect the boilers of such steamthe boilers.
ers before the same shall be used, and once in every year
thereafter, subjecting them to a hydrostatic pressure, the




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                             9
limit to which, not exceeding one hundred and sixty-five Aug. 30, 1852.
pounds to the square inch for high-pressure boilers, may be
prescribed by the owner or the master, and shall satisfy
themselves by examination and experimental trials, that the
boilers are well made of good and suitable material; that
the openings for the passage of water and steam respectively, and all pipes and tubes exposed to heat, are of proper
dimensions, and free from obstruction; that the spaces between the flues are sufficient, and that the fire-line of the
furnace is below the prescribed water-line of the boilers;
and that such boilers and the machinery and the appurtenances may be safely employed in the service proposed in
the written application, without peril to life; and shall also
satisfy themselves that the safety-valves are of suitable dimensions, sufficient in number, well arranged, and in good
working order (one of which may, if necessary, in the  One of the
opinion of the inspectors, to secure safety, be taken wholly mayfee taken
from the control of all persons engaged in navigating such from the control of the nayvessel); that there is a suitable number of gauge-cocks igator.
properly inserted, and a suitable water-gauge and steamgauge indicating the height of the water and the pressure
of the steam; that in or upon the outside flue of each outside high-pressure boiler there is placed in a suitable manner
alloyed metals, fusible by the heat of the boiler when raised
to the highest working pressure allowed, and that in or upon
the top of the flues of all other high-pressure boilers in the
steamer such alloyed metals are placed, as aforesaid, fusing
at ten pounds greater pressure than said metals on the outside boilers, thereby, in each case, letting steam escape; and
that adequate and certain provision is made for an ample
supply of water to feed the boilers at all times, whether such
vessel is in motion-or not; so that, in high-pressure boilers,
the water shall not be less than four inches above the flue:
Provided, however, in steamers hereafter supplied with new
high-pressure boilers, if the alloy fuses on the outer boilers
at a pressure of ten pounds exceeding the working pressure
allowed, and at twenty pounds above said pressure on the
inner boilers, it shall be a sufficient compliance with this
act.




10                             ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852.  Third, That in subjecting to the hydrostatic test aforeMode of sub- said boilers called and usually known under the designation
pressure boil- of high-pressure boilers, the inspectors shall assume one
ers to hydro- hundred and ten pounds to the square inch as the maxistatic pressure.
mum pressure allowable as a working power for a new
boiler forty-two inches in diameter, made of inspected iron
plates at least one fourth of an inch thick, in the' best manner, and of the quality herein required, and shall rate the
working power of all high-pressure boilers, whether of greater
or less diameter, old or new, according to their strength compared with this standard; and in all cases the test applied
shall exceed the working power allowed, in the ratio of one
hundred and sixty-five to one hundred and ten, and no highpressure boilers hereafter made shall be rated above this
standard: and in subjecting to the test aforesaid that class
Low-pressure of boilers usually designated and known as low-pressure
boilers, the said inspectors shall allow as a working power
of each new boiler a pressure of only three fourths the number of pounds to the square inch to which it shall have been
subjected by the hydrostatic test and found to be sufficient
therefor, using the water in such tests at a temperature not
exceeding sixty degrees Fahrenheit; but should such inspectors be of the opinion, that said boiler by reason of its
construction or material will not safely allow so high a
working pressure, they may, for reasons to be stated specifically in their certificate, fix the working pressure of said
boiler at less than three fourths of said test pressure, and no
low-pressure boiler hereafter made shall be rated in its working pressure above the aforesaid standard: and provided that
the same rules shall be observed in regard to boilers heretofore made, unless the proportion between such boilers and
the cylinders, or some other cause, renders it manifest that
its application would be unjust, in which cases the inspectors may depart from these rules, if it can be done with
safety; but in no case shall the working pressure allowed
Boilers not exceed the hydrostatic test, and no valve under any circumbeyond ted  stances shall be loaded or so managed in any way as to subpressure al-  ject a boiler to a greater pressure than the amount allowed
by the inspectors, nor shall any boiler or pipe be approved




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                           11
which is made in whole or in part of bad material, or is un- Aug. 30, 1852.
safe in its form, or dangerous from defective workmanship, Defects in
age, use, or any other cause.                             other respects.
Fourth. That when the inspection in detail is completed, Certificate of
inspectors.
and the inspectors approve of the vessel and her equipment
throughout, they shall make and subscribe a certificate to
the collector of the district, substantially as follows:State of            District of             Application
having been made in writing by                to the subscribers, inspectors for said district, to examine the steamer
of             whereof           are owners,
and           is master, we having performed that service,
now, on this           day of             A. D.
do certify, that she was built in the year, is in all
respects stanch, seaworthy, and in good condition for navigation, having suitable means of escape in case of accident
from the main to the upper deck, that she is provided with
(here insert the number of state-rooms, the number of berths
therein, the number of other permanent berths for cabin
passengers, the number of berths for deck or other classes
of passengers, the number of passengers of each class for
whom she has suitable accommodations, and in case of
steamers sailing to or from any European port, or to or from
any port on the Atlantic or the Pacific a distance of one
thousand miles or upwards, the number of each she is permitted to carry, - and in case of a steamer sailing to any
other port a distance of five hundred miles or upwards, the
number of deck passengers she is permitted to carry; also
the number of boilers, and the form, dimensions, and material of which each boiler is made, the thickness of the metal,
and when made; if made after this act takes effect, and of
iron, whether they are such in all respects as the act requires,
whether each boiler has been tried by hydrostatic test, the
amount of pressure to the square inch in pounds applied to
it, whether the amount allowed as the maximum working
power was determined by the rule prescribed by this act, if
not, the reason for a departure from it; also the number of
safety-valves required, their capacity, the load prescribed for
each valve, how many are left in the control of the persons




12                        ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. navigating the vessel, whether one is withdrawn, and the
manner of securing it against interference, also the number
and dimensions of supply-pipes, and whether they and the
other means provided are sufficient at all times and under
all circumstances, when in good order, to keep the water up
four inches at least above the top of the flue; also the number and dimensions of the steam-pipes, the number and kind
of engines, the dimensions of their cylinders, the number
and capacity of the forcing-pumps, and how worked, the
number and kind of gauge-cocks, water and steam gauges,
where situate, and how secured; also the manner of using
alloyed metals, and the pressure at which they are known
by the inspectors to fuse; the equipments for the extinguishment of fires, including hose, fire-buckets, and axes; the provisions for saving life in case of accident, including boats,
life-preservers, and substitutes therefor, where kept, and all
other provisions made on board for the security of the lives
of passengers). And we further certify, that the equipment of the vessel throughout, including pipes, pumps, and
other means to keep the water up to the point aforesaid,
hose, boats, life-preservers, and other things, is in conformity with the provisions of law; and that we declare it to be
our deliberate conviction, founded upon the inspection which
we have made, that the vessel may be employed as a steamer upon the waters named in the application, without peril
to life from any imperfection of form, materials, workmanship, or arrangement of the several parts, or from age or
use. And we further certify, that said vessel is to run within
the following limits, to wit: from      to      and back,
-touching at intermediate places.
Certificate to  And which certificate shall be verified by the oaths of the
be sworn to.
inspectors signing it, before a person competent by law to
In case of re- administer oaths. And in case the said inspectors do not
fusal to certify,
the reasons to grant a certificate of approval, they shall state in writing,
be assigned in and sign the same, their reasons for their disapproval.
writing.
Provision for  Fifth.  Upon the application of the master or owner of
licenses to carry certain dan any steamer employed in the carriage of passengers, for a
gerous articles. license to carry gunpowder, oil of turpentine, oil of vitriol,
camphene, or other explosive burning-fluids and materials




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                                13
which ignite by friction, or either of them, the inspectors Aug. 30, 1852.
shall examine such vessel, and if they find that she is provided with chests or safes composed of metal, or entirely
lined therewith, or one or more apartments thoroughly lined
with metal at a secure distance from  any fire, they may
grant a certificate to that effect, authorizing such vessel to  License.
carry as freight any of the articles aforesaid, those of each
description to be secured in such chest, safe, or apartment,
containing no other article, and carried at a distance from
any fire to be specified in the certificate: Provided, That  Rievocation
any such certificate may be revoked or annulled at any
time by the inspectors, upon proof that either of the said
articles have been carried on board said vessel at a place or
in a manner not authorized by such certificate, or that any
of the provisions of this act in relation thereto have been
violated.
Sixth. The said inspectors shall keep a regular record of Record of
certificates of
certificates of inspections of vessels, their boilers, engines, inspection and
and machinery, whether of approval or disapproval, and licenses to carwhen recorded the original shall be delivered to the collector of the district; they shall keep a like record of certificates, authorizing gunpowder, oil of turpentine, oil of vitriol, camphene, or other explosive burning-fluids and materials which ignite by friction, or either of them, to be carried  Originals to
be delivered to
as freight, by any such vessel; and when recorded deliver the collector.
the originals to said collector; they shall keep a like record Licenses to
pilots and enof all licenses to pilots and engineers, and all revocations gineers, and
thereof, and shall from time to time report to the supervising threvocationf.
inspector of their respective districts, in writing, their de- Report to supervising incisions on all applications for such licenses, or proceedings spector.
for the revocation thereof, and all testimony received by
them in such proceedings.
Seventh. The inspectors shall license and classify all en- Licenses of
gineers and pilots of steamers carrying passengers.            pilots and engineers.
Eighth. Whenever any person, claiming to be qualified  Engineers.
to perform the duty of engineer upon steamers carrying
passengers, shall apply for a certificate, the board of inspectors shall examine the applicant, and the proofs which he
produces in support of his claim; and if, upon full consid2




14                               ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. eration, they are satisfied that his character, habits of life,
knowledge, and experience in the duties of an engineer, are
all such as to authorize the belief that the applicant is a
suitable and safe person to be intrusted with the powers
Certificate  and duties of such a station, they shall give him a certififor one year. cate to that effect, for one year, signed by them, in which
certificate they shall state the time of the examination, and
shall assign the appointee to the appropriate class of engineers.
Pilots.     Ninth. Whenever any person claiming to be a skilful pilot for any such vessel shall offer himself for a license, the
said board shall make diligent inquiry as to his character
and merits; and if satisfied that he possesses the requisite
skill, and is trustworthy and faithful, they shall give him a
License for certificate to that effect, licensing him  for one year to be a
one year and
revocable.   pilot of any such vessels within the limit prescribed in the
certificate; but the license of any such engineer or pilot
may be revoked upon proof of negligence, unskilfulness, or
Appeal, in  inattention to the duties of the station: Provided, however,
case of refusal
of a pilot's or If, in cases of refusal to license engineers or pilots, and in
engineers li-  cases of the revocation of any license by the local board of
cense, to supervising inspec- inspectors, any engineer or pilot deeming himself wronged
tor.
by such refusal or revocation may, within thirty days after
notice thereof, on application to a supervising inspector,
have his case examined anew by such supervising inspector, upon producing a certified copy of the reasons assigned
by the local board for their doings in the premises; and such
supervising inspector may revoke the decision of such local
board of inspectors, and license such pilot or engineer; and
Appeal from like proceedings, upon the same conditions, may be had by
decision respecting steam- the master or owner of any such vessel, or of any steamboats.      boat-boiler, for which the said local board shall have refused, upon inspection, to give a certificate of approval, or
shall have notified such master or owner of any repairs necessary after such certificate has been granted.
Employment  Tenth. It shall be unlawful for any person to employ, or
of unlicensed
pilots and en- any person to serve as engineer or pilot, on any such vessel,
gineers forepbid- who is not licensed by the inspectors; and any one so ofcertain cases of fending shall forfeit one hundred dollars for each offence:
necessity.




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                            15
Provided, however, That if a vessel leaves her port with a Aug. 30, 1852.
complement of engineers and pilots, and on her voyage is
deprived of their services, or the services of any of them,
without the consent, fault, or collusion of the master, owner,
or any one interested in the vessel, the deficiency may be
temporarily supplied, until others, licensed, can be obtained.
Eleventh. In addition to the annual inspection, it shall Provision for
other than anbe the duty of said board to examine, seasonably, steamers nual inspecarriving and departing, so often as to enable them to detect tions.
any neglect to comply with the requirements of law, and
also any defects or imperfections becoming apparent after
the inspection aforesaid, and tending to render the navigation of the vessel unsafe, which service may be performed
by one of the board; and if he shall discover an omission bepairs may
be ordered.
to comply with the law, or that repairs have become necessary to make the vessel safe, he shall at once notify the
master, stating in the notice what is required; and if the
master deems the requirements unreasonable or unnecessary, he may take the opinion of the board thereon, and, if
dissatisfied with the decision of such board, may apply for Appeal from
such order.
a reexamination of the case to the supervising inspector, as
is hereinbefore provided; and if he shall refuse or neglect to
comply with the requirements of the local board, and shall,
contrary thereto, and while the same remains unreversed by
the supervising inspector, employ the vessel by navigating
her, the master and owners shall be liable for any damage Master and
to the passengers and their baggage which shall occur from pownersibefor
any defects so as aforesaid stated in said notice, which shall damages from
neglect to combe in writing, and all inspections and orders shall be prompt- ply with such
ly made by the inspectors; and where it can be safely done, order.
in their judgment, they shall permit repairs to be made Repairs
where those interested can most conveniently do them; and madre to be
no inspectors of one district shall modify or annul the do- Doings of
ings of the inspectors of another district, in regard to repairs, when they may
unless there is a change in the state of things, demanding be modified by
more repairs than were thought necessary when the order
was made; nor shall the inspectors of one district appoint a Persons reperson coming from another, if such person has been reject- jboard not to be
ed for unfitness or want of qualifications.                licensed byany
other.




16                                ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852.  Twelfth. The said board, when thereto requested, shall
Inspection of inspect steamers belonging to districts where no such board
steamboats  is established; and if a certificate of approval is not granted,
where there is
no local board. no other inspection shall be made by the same or any other
No new inspection to be board, until the objections made by the inspectors-are remadeuftil for- moved; and if any vessel shall be navigated after a board
remedied.    of inspectors have refused to make the collector a certificate
Penalty for
navigating af- of approval, she shall be liable to the same penalties as if
ter refyusal to  she had been run without a license: Provided, however,
Permit to go That nothing herein contained shall impair the right of the
to another districtforrepairs. inspectors to permit such vessel to go to another port for
repairs, if, in their opinion, it is safe so to do.
Provision to   Thirteenth. The said board of inspectors shall have power
compel attendance of wit-  to summon before them  witnesses, and to compel their atnesses, and
their exami-  tendance by the same process as in courts of law; and, after
nation under reasonable time given to the alleged delinquent, at the time
and place of investigation to examine said witnesses under
oath, touching the performance of their duties by engineers
and pilots of any such vessel; and if it shall appear satisfactorily that any such engineer or pilot is incompetent, or
that life has been placed in peril by reason of such incompetency, or by negligence or misconduct on the part of any
Suspension such person, the board shall immediately suspend or revoke
or revocation  his license, and report their doings to the chief officer of the
of licenses of
pilots and en- customs; and the said chief officer of the customs shall pay
gineers.
Payment of out of the revenues herein provided such sums to any witwitnesses-    ness so summoned under the provisions of this act, for his
actual travel and attendance, as shall be officially certified,
by an inspector hearing the case, upon the back of the summons, not exceeding the rates allowed to a witness for travel
and attendance in the Circuit and District Courts of the
United States.
Reports of    Fourteenth. That the said board shall report promptly all
said board.  their doings to the chief officer of the customs, as well as all
omissions or refusals to comply with the provisions of law
on the part of any owner or master of any such vessel, propelled in whole or in part by steam, carrying passengers.
Mates, and    Fifteenth. That it shall at all times be the duty of all
licensed pilots
and engineers, engineers and pilots licensed under this act, and all mates,




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                              17
to assist the inspectors in the examination of any such ves- Aug. 30, 1852.
sels to which any such engineer, mate, or pilot belongs, and to assist said
to point out all defects and imperfections in the hull or ap- board and give
them informaparatus for steaming, and also to make known to them, at tion, on penalthe earliest opportunity, all accidents occasioning serious tyof revocation
of license.
injury to the vessel or her equipment, whereby life may be
in danger; and in default thereof the license of any such engineer or pilot shall be revoked.
SEC. 10.  And be it further enacted, That in those cases  Provisions
where the number of passengers is limited by the inspector's number of pascertificate, it shall not be lawful to take on board of any sengers, detentions on the
steamer a greater number of passengers than is certified by passage, and
accommodathe inspectors in the certificate; and the master and owners, tions, and penor either of them, shall be liable, to any person suing for the alties.
same, to forfeit the amount of passage-money and ten dollars for each passenger beyond the number allowed. And
moreover, in all cases of an express or implied undertaking
to transport passengers, or to supply them with food and
lodging, from place to place, and suitable provision is not
made of a full and adequate supply of good and wholesome
food and water, and of suitable lodging for all such passengers, or where barges, or other craft, impeding the progress,
are taken in tow, for a distance exceeding five hundred
miles, without previous and seasonable notice to such passengers, in all such cases the owners and the vessel shall be
liable to refund all the money paid for the passage, and to
pay also the damage sustained by such default or delay:
Provided, however, That, if in any such case a satisfactory Vessel to be
bond is given to the marshal, for the benefit of the plaintiff beleased being
to secure the satisfaction of such judgment as he may re- given.
cover, the vessel shall be released.
SEC. 11.  And be it further enacted, That if the master of  Penalty for
a steamer, or any other person, whether acting under orders deranging the
or not, shall intentionally load or obstruct, or cause to be means of regulating or indiloaded or obstructed, in any way or manner, the safety valve eating the presor valves of a boiler, or shall employ any other means orsure ofsteam.
device whereby the boiler shall be subjected to a greater
pressure than the amount allowed by the certificate of the
inspectors, or shall be exposed to a greater pressure, or shall
2*




18                             ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. intentionally derange or hinder the operation of any machinery or device employed to denote the state of the water
or steam in any boiler, or to give warning of approaching
danger, it shall, in any such case, be a misdemeanor, and
any and every person concerned thereini, directly or indirectly, shall forfeit two hundred dollars, and may, at the discretion of the court, be in addition thereto imprisoned not
exceeding eighteen months.
Penalty for   SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That if at any time
allowing the  there be a deficiency of water in a boiler, by suffering it to
water to fall
below a certain fall below three inches above the flue, as prescribed in this
line.
act, unless the same happens through inevitable accident, the
master, if it be by his order, assenti or connivance, and also
the engineer, or other person whose duty it is to keep up the
supply, shall be guilty of an offence for which they shall severally be fined one hundred dollars each; and if an explosion
or collapse happens in consequence of such deficiency, they,
or any of them, may be further punished by imprisonment,
for a period of not less than six nor more than eighteen
months.
Boilers to be  SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That hereafter all
made of stamped materials. boilers of steamboats made of iron shall be constructed of
plates which have been stamped according to the provisions
of this act.
Examina-    SEC. 14.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
tion of boilerplates.    duty of such inspectors to ascertain the quality of the material of which the boiler-plates of any such boiler so submitted to their inspection are made; and to satisfy themselves
by any suitable means whether the mode of rlanufacturing
has been such as to produce iron equal to good iron made
with charcoal, such as in their judgment may be used for
generating steam-power without hazard to life; and no such
Qualities to boiler shall be approved which is made of unsuitable matebe required  rial, or of which the manufacture is imperfect, or is not, in
their opinion, of suitable strength, or whose plates are less
than one fourth of an inch in thickness for a high-pressure
boiler of forty-two inches in diameter, and in that proportion
of strength according to the maximum of working pressure
allowed for high-pressure boilers of greater or less diameter,




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                            19
or which is made of any but wrought iron of a quality equal Aug. 30, 1852.
to good iron made with charcoal.
SEC. 15. And be it further enacted, That all plates of Boiler-plates
boiler-iron shall be distinctly and permanently stamped in to be stamped.
such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, and, if practicable, in such place or places that the
mark shall be left visible after the plates are worked into
boilers; with the name of the manufacturer, the quality of
the iron, and whether or not hammered, and the place where
the same is manufactured.
SEC. 16. And be it further enacted, That it shall be un- Penalty for
lawful to use, in such vessel for generating steam for power, making for use
a boiler, or steam-pipe connecting the boilers, made after the made hereafter
of unstamped
passage of this act, of any iron unless it has been stamped plates.
by the manufacturer as herein provided; and if any person
shall make, for use in any such vessel, a boiler of iron not so
stamped, intended to generate steam for power, he shall, for
any such offence, forfeit five hundred dollars, to be recovered
in an action of debt by any person suing for the same; and
any person using or causing to be used in any such vessel
such a boiler to generate steam for power, shall forfeit a like
sum for each offence.
SEC. 17. And be it further enacted, That if any person Penalty for
shall counterfeit the marks and stamps required by this act, fraud,&c., asto
or shall falsely stamp any boiler-iron, and be convicted thereof, he shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars and
imprisoned not exceeding two years. And if any person or Damages for
using the
persons shall stamp or mark plates with the name or marks stamp of anof another, with intent to mislead, deceive, or defraud, such tent to defranu.
person or persons shall be liable to any one injured thereby,
for all damage occasioned by such fraud or deception.
SEC. 18. And he it further enacted, That, in order to carry  Nine supervising inspecthis act fully into execution, the President of the United tors to be apStates shall, with the advice of the Senate, appoint nine su- pointed.
pervising inspectors, who shall be selected for their knowl- Their qualiedge, skill, and experience in the uses of steam for naviga- fications.
tion, and who are competent judges, not only of the character
of vessels, but of all parts of the machinery employed in
steaming, who shall assemble together at such places as To meet as a




20                               ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. they may agree upon, once in each year at least, for joint
board at least consultation and the establishment of rules and regulations
yearly, to make for their own conduct and that of the several boards of inrules and regulations, and as- spectors within the districts, and also to assign to each of the
sign limits   said nine inspectors the limits of territory within which he
Pay of said shall perform his duties. And the said supervising inspecsupervising   tors shall each be paid for his services after the rate of fifteen
hundred dollars a year, and in addition thereto, his actual
Expenses.  reasonable travelling expenses, incurred in the necessary performance of his duty when away from the principal port in
his district, and certified and sworn to by him under such
Expense of instructions as shall be given by the Secretary of the Treastransportation ury, who is hereby authorized to pay such salaries, and also
of instruments
of examina-  such travelling expenses, and the actual reasonable expenses
tion.       (both to them  and other inspectors) of transporting from
Payment of
supervising   place to place the instruments used in inspections, which exand local in- 
spectors.   penses shall be proved to his satisfaction.
Duties ofsu-  SEC. 19.  And be it further enacted, That the supervising
pectors.g    inspectors shall watch over all parts of the territory assigned
them, shall visit, confer with, and examine into the doings
of the several boards of inspectors, and shall, whenever they
think it expedient, visit such vessels, licensed, and examine
into their condition, for the purpose of ascertaining whether
the provisions of this act have been observed and c6mplied
with, both by the board of inspectors and the master and
Their rea-  owners; and it shall be the duty of all masters, engineers,
sonable inquiries to be an- and pilots of such vessels, to answer all reasonable inquiries,
swered and in- and to give all the information in their power, in regard to
formation to be
given them.  any such vessel so visited, and her machinery for steaming,
and the manner of managing both.
Duties as to   SEC. 20.  And be it further enacted, That whenever a
prosecution of supervising inspector ascertains to his satisfaction that the
persons failing
to comply with master, engineer, pilot, or owner of any such vessel fail to
perform  their duties according to the provisions of this act,
he shall report the facts in writing to the board in the district where the vessel belongs, and, if need be, cause the negligent or offending parties to be prosecuted; and if he has
good reason to believe there has been, through negligence,
or from any other cause, a failure of the board who inspect



RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                              21
ed the vessel to do its duty, he shall report the facts in writ- Aug. 30, 1852.
ing to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall cause immediate investigation into the truth of the complaint, and, if he
deems the cause sufficient, shall remove the delinquent.
SEC. 21. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the  Duties as to
supervising the
duty  of such supervising inspectors to see that the said local boards.
several boards within their respective collection districts execute their duties faithfully, promptly, and, as far as possible, uniformly, in all places, by following out the provisions
of this act, according to the true intent and meaning thereof; and they shall, as far as practicable by their established
rules, harmonize differences of opinion when they exist in
different boards.
SEC. 22. And be it further enacted, That the said super- Provision,
where there is
vising inspectors shall also visit collection districts in which no local board,
there are no boards of inspectors, if there be any where inconvee nient
steamers are owned or employed, and each one shall have to resort to it.
full power to inspect any such steamer or boilers of each
steamer in any such district, or in any other district where,
from distance or other cause, it is inconvenient to resort to
the local board, and to grant certificates of approval according to the provisions of this act, and to do and perform in
such districts all the duties imposed upon boards in the districts where they exist: Provided, That no supervising or  No inspector
to act where he
other inspector shall be deemed competent to inspect in any is interested, or
case where he is directly or indirectly personally interested, associated with
persons in inor is associated in business with any person who is so in- terest.
terested, but in all such cases the duty shall be performed
Inspection
by disinterested inspectors, and inspection made in violation by such interof this rule shall be void and of no effect.                 ested person to
SEC. 23. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the Each collector, &c. to
duty of each of the collectors or other chief officers of the report the licustoms for the districts aforesaid, except San Francisco, censes granted
or refused.
to make known without delay'to the collectors of all the
said districts, except San Francisco, the names of all persons licensed as engineers or pilots for such vessels, and the
names of all persons from whom, upon application, licenses
have been withheld, and the names of all whose licenses
have been revoked or suspended, and also the names of all




22                                ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. such vessels which neglect or refuse to make such repairs as
may be ordered under the provisions of this act, and the
names of all for which license has been, on application, refused.
Collector, &c.  SEC. 24. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
and inspectors duty of the collectors or other chief officers of the customs,
to attend to enforcing this  and of the inspectors aforesaid, within the said several dislaw, on penalty
of loss of office tricts, to enforce the provisions of -law against all such
and a fine.   steamers  arriving  and  departing; and  upon  proof that
any collector or other chief officer of the customs, or inspector, has negligently or intentionally omitted his duty in
this particular, such delinquent shall be removed from office,
Penalty.   and shall also be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each offence, to be sued for in an action of debt before any court of competent jurisdiction.
Collector, &c.  SEC. 25. And be it further enacted, That the collector
to retain certifi- or other chief officer of the customs shall retain on file
cates of inspectors, andtogive all original certificates of the inspectors required by this act
out two certified copies.  to be delivered to him, and shall give to the master or owner
of the vessel therein named two certified copies thereof, one
One copy to of which shall be placed by such master or owner in some
bein a keonspicu-ted conspicuous place in the vessel, where it will be most likely
ous place in the to be observed by passengers and others, and there kept at
all times, the other shall be retained by such master or
owner as evidence of the authority thereby conferred; and
Penalty for if any person shall receive or carry any passenger on board
not having
such certificate any such steamer not having a certified copy of the certifiso posted, and
for carrying   cate of approval, as required by this act, placed and kept as
gunpowderU  aforesaid; or who shall receive or carry any gunpowder, oil
&c. without
license, or im- of turpentine, oil of vitriol, camphene, or other explosive
properly
stowed.     burning-fluids  or materials which  ignite  by  friction, as
freight, on board any steamer carrying passengers, not
having a certificate authorizing the same, and a certified
copy thereof placed and kept as aforesaid; or who shall
stow or carry any of said articles, at a place or in a manner
not authorized by such certificate, shall forfeit and pay for
each offence one hundred dollars, to be recovered by action
of debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
inspector, for    SEC. 26. And be it further enacted, That every inspec



RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                             23
tor who shall wilfully certify falsely touching any such Aug. 30, 1852.
vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam, and carrying giving false
passengers, her hull, accommodations, boilers, engines, ma- certificates.
chinery, or their appurtenances, or any of her equipments,
or any matter or thing contained in any certificate signed
and sworn to by him, shall on conviction thereof be punished
by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
SEC. 27. And be it further enacted, That if any such  Penalty on
the master for
vessel carrying passengers, having a license and certificate, navigating a
as required by this act, shall be navigated without having bessnglinotnher hull, accommodations, boilers, engines, machinery, and formity with
their appurtenances, and all equipments, in all things conformable to such certificate, the master or commander by
whom  she shall be so navigated, having knowledge of such
defect, shall be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred
dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding two months, or both:
Provided, That such master or commander shall not be Exception as
liable for loss or deficiency occasioned by the dangers ofto deficiency
by danger of
navigation, if such loss or deficiency shall be supplied as navigation.
soon as practicable.
SEC. 28. And be it further enacted, That on any such  Stopping of
vessels when
steamers navigating rivers only, when from  darkness, fog, navigation is
or other cause, the pilot on watch shall be of opinion that dangerous on
rivers.
the navigation is unsafe, or from accident to, or derangement of, the machinery of the boat, the engineer on watch
shall be of the opinion that the further navigation of the
vessel is unsafe, the vessel shall be brought to anchor, or
moored, as soon as it prudently can be done: Provided,
That if the person in command shall, after being so admonished by either of such officers, elect to pursue such voyage, he may do the same; but in such case both he and
the owners of such steamer shall be answerable for all Liability for
damages if no
damages which shall arise to the person of any passenger stop is made.
and his baggage from said causes in so pursuing the voyage,
and no degree of care or diligence shall in such case be held
to justify or excuse the person in command, or said owners.
SEC. 29. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the nules for
passing to be
duty of the supervising inspectors to establish such rules adopted by the




24                               ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. and regulations, to be observed by all such vessels in passing
supervising   each other, as they shall from  time to time deem necessary
board and to
be kept posted for safety, two printed copies of which rules and regulations,
in every steam- signed by said inspectors, shall be furnished to each of such
vessels, and shall at all times be kept up in conspicuous
places on such vessels, which rules shall be observed both
Penalty for night and day.  Should any pilot, engineer, or master of
neglecting to
observe such  any such vessel neglect or wilfully refuse to observe the forerules.      going regulations, any delinquent so neglecting or refusing
shall be liable to a penalty of thirty dollars, and to all damage done to any passenger, in his person or baggage, by
such neglect or refusal; and no such vessel shall be justified
in coming into collision with another if it can be avoided.
Liability of    SEC. 30. And be it further enacted, That whenever damowner, &c., for
damage to pas-  age is sustained by any passenger or his baggage, from exsengers or their plosion, fire, collision, or other cause, the master and the
baggage.
owner of such vessel, or either of them, and the vessel, shall
be liable to each and every person so injured, to the full
amount of damage, if it happens through any neglect to
comply with the provisions of law herein prescribed, or
through known defects or imperfections of the steaming
apparatus, or of the hull; and any person sustaining loss
or injury through the carelessness, negligence, or wilful misconduct of an engineer or pilot, or their neglect or refisal to
obey the provisions of law herein prescribed as to navigating such steamers, may sue such engineer or pilot, and recover damages for any such injury caused as aforesaid by
any such engineer or pilot.
Fees for in-  SEC. 31. And be it further enacted, That before issuing
spectors' certificates, and the annual license to any such steamer, the collector or
for licenses   other chief officer of the customs for the port or district
shall demand and receive from the owner or owners of the
steamer, as a compensation for the inspections and examinations made for the year, the following sums, in addition
to the fees for issuing enrolments and licenses, now allowed
by law, according to the tonnage of the vessel, to wit: for
each vessel of a thousand tons and over, thirty-five dollars;
for each of five hundred tons and over, but less than one
thousand tons, thirty dollars; and for each under five hun



RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                              25
dred tons and over one hundred and twenty-five tons, twen- Aug. 30, 1852.
ty-five dollars; and for each under one hundred and twentyfive tons, twenty dollars, at the time of obtaining registry,
and once in each year thereafter pay, according to the rate
of tonnage before mentioned, the sum of money herein fixed:
And each engineer and pilot licensed as herein provided License fees
to be paid tO
shall pay, for the first certificate granted by any inspector or the inspectors,
and by them to
inspectors, the sum  of five dollars, and for each subsequent the collector.
certificate one dollar, to such inspector or inspectors, to be
accounted for and paid over to the collector or other chief
officer of the customs; and the sums derived from all the
sources above specified shall be quarterly accounted for and
paid over to the United States in the same manner as other
revenue.
SEC. 32. And be it further enacted, That each inspector Inspectors
to keep a recshall keep an accurate account of every such steamer board- ord of all their
ed by him  during the year, and of all his official acts and doings, and redoings, which in the form of a report he shall communicate to the collector
semiannually.
to the collector or other chief officer of the customs, on the
first days of May and November, in each year.
SEC. 33. And be itfurther enacted, That the inspectors in Compensathe following districts shall each be allowed annually the t ri ofinspectors
following compensation, to be paid under the direction of
the Secretary of the Treasury, in the manner officers of the
revenue are paid, to wit:
For the district of Portland, in Maine, three hundred dollars. Portland.
For the district of Boston and Charlestown, in Massa- Boston and
chusetts, eight hundred dollars.                             Charlestown.
For the district of New London, in Connecticut, three New Lonhundred dollars.                                             don.
For the district of New York, two thousand dollars.         New York.
For the district of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, one Philadelthousand dollars.                                            phia.
For the district of Baltimore, in Maryland, one thousand Baltimore.
dollars.
For the district of Norfolk, in Virginia, three hundred Norfolk.
dollars.
For the district of Charleston, in South Carolina, four  Charleston.
hundred dollars.
3




26                                 ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852.  For the district of Savannah, in Georgia, four hundred
Savannah.  dollars.
Mobile.      For the district of Mobile, in Alabama, one thousand
dollars.
New Orle-    For the district of New Orleans, or in which New'Orleans
ans.        is the port of entry, in Louisiana, two thousand dollars.
Galveston.    For the district of Galveston, in Texas, three hundred
dollars.
St. Louis.   For the district of St. Louis, in Missouri, fifteen hundred
dollars.
Nashville.   For the district of Nashville, in Tennessee, four hundred
dollars.
Louisville.    For the district of Louisville, in Kentucky, twelve hundred dollars.
Cincinnati.    For the district of Cincinnati, Ohio, fifteen hundred dollars.
Wheeling.    For the district of Wheeling, Virginia, five hundred dollars.
Pittsburg.   For the district of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, fifteen hundred dollars.
Chicago.     For the district of Chicago, Illinois, five hundred dollars.
Detroit.     For the district of Detroit, Michigan, eight hundred dollars.
Cleveland.    For the district of Cleveland, Ohio, five hundred dollars.
Buffalo.     For the district of Buffalo, New  York, twelve hundred
dollars.
Oswego.      For the district of Oswego, or of which Oswego is the
port of entry, New York, three hundred dollars.
Vermont.     For the district of Vermont, two hundred dollars.
San Fran-    For the district of San Francisco, California, fifteen huncisco.      dred dollars.
Instruments   SEC. 34. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of
of examination
to be provided. the Treasury shall provide the inspectors with a suitable
number of instruments, of uniform construction, so as to
give uniform results, to test the strength of boilers.
Record of    SEC. 35. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
passengers to
be kept daily, duty of the master of any such steamer to cause to be kept
and to be open a correct list of all the passengers received and delivered
to examination
by the inspec- from day to day, noting the places where received and where
tors.       landed, which record shall be open to the inspection of the
Penalty on  inspectors and officers of the customs at all times; and in
master for neg- case of default, through negligence or design, the said master
lect.




RELATMNG. TO STEAMBOATS.                              27
shall forfeit one hundred dollars, which penalty, as well as Aug. 30, 1852.
that for excess of passengers, shall be a lien upon the vessel:  Lien on the
Provided, however, A  bond may, as provided for in other vessel for pencases, be given to secure the satisfaction of the judgment.  ing passengers.,
Bond may
SEC. 36. And be it further enacted, That every master or be given.
commander of any such steamer shall keep on board of of this act (ifursuch steamer at least two copies of this act, to be furnished nished by the
Secretary of
to him by the Secretary of the Treasury; and if the master the Treasury)
or commander neglects or refuses so to do, or shall unrea- board keaPchn
sonably refuse to exhibit a copy of the same to any passen- steamboat, and
exhibited to
ger who shall ask it, he shall forfeit twenty dollars.         any passenger
SEC. 37. And be it further enacted, That any inspector undenpr penalty
who shall, upon any pretence, receive any fee or reward for of $20.
Penalty on
his services rendered under this act, except what is herein inspectors, for
receiving any
allowed him, shall forfeit his office; and if found guilty, on but the above
indictment, be otherwise punished, according to the aggra- fees.
vation of the offence, by fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
SEC. 38. And be it further enacted, That all engineers Pilots and
and pilots of any such vessel shall, before entering uponesgineers tetheir duties, make solemn oath before one of the inspectors fore entering
on their duherein provided for, to be recorded with the certificate, that ties.
he will faithfully and honestly, according to his best skill
and judgment, perform all the duties required of him by this
act, without concealment or reservation; and if any such Penalty on
them and witengineer, pilot, or any witness summoned under this act as nesses for false
a witness, shall, when under examination on oath, knowing- swearing.
ly and intentionally falsify the truth, such person shall be
deemed guilty of perjury, and if convicted be punished
accordingly.
SEC. 39. And be it further enacted, That the supervising  Supervising
inspectors to
inspectors appointed under the provisions of this act shall, receive inforwithin their respective districts, under the direction of the mation respecting certain
Secretary of the Treasury, take the examination, or receive topics relating
to steamboats,
the statements in writing, of persons of practical knowledge and transmit
the same to the
and experience in the navigation of steam-vessels, the con- secretary of
struction and use of boilers, engines, machinery, and equip- the Treasury.
ments, touching the form, material, and construction of engines and their appurtenances; the causes of the explosion




28                              ACTS OF CONGRESS
Aug. 30, 1852. of boilers and collapse of flues, and the means of prevention;
the kind and description of safety-valves, water and steam
gauges or indicators; equipments for the extinguishment of
fires, and for the preservation of life in case of accident, on
board of such vessels, and all other means in use, or proper
to be adopted, for the better security of the lives of persons
on board vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam; the
advantages and disadvantages of the different descriptions
of boilers, engines, and their appurtenances, safety-valves,
water and steam gauges or indicators, equipments for the
prevention or extinguishment of fires, and the preservation
of life in case of accident, in use on board such vessels;
whether any, and what further legislation is necessary or
proper for the better security of the lives of persons on board
such steam-vessels; which examination and statements so
taken and received shall be transmitted to the Secretary of
the Treasury, at such time as he shall prescribe.
Secretary of   SEC. 40.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
the Treasury to duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to cause such interprepare interrogatories to  rogatories to be prepared and published as in his opinion
elicit such in-              p
formation, and may be proper to elicit the information contemplated by the
report the information to  preceding section, and upon the receipt of the examination
Congress.   and statements taken by the inspectors shall report the same
to Congress, together with the recommendation of such further provisions as he may deem proper to be made for the
better security of the lives of persons on board steam-vessels.
Penalties,    SEC. 41.  And be it further enacted, That all penalties imhow sued for
and recovered. posed by this act may be recovered in an action of debt by
any person who will sue therefor in any court of the United
States.
This act not   SEC. 42.  And be it further enacted, That this act shall
to apply to cer- not apply to public vessels of the United States or vessels of
tain vessels.
other countries; nor to steamers used as ferry-boats, tugboats, towing-boats, nor to steamers not exceeding one hundred and fifty tons burden and used in whole or in part for
Inspection of navigating canals. The inspection and certificate required
the Ocean Mail 
Steamers.    by this act shall in all cases of ocean steamers constructed
under contract with the United States, for the purpose, if desired, of being converted into war steamers, be made by a




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                              29
Chief Engineer of the Navy, to be detailed for that service Aug. 30, 1852.
by the Secretary of the Navy, and he shall report both to
said Secretary and to the supervising inspector of the district
where he shall make any inspection.
SEC. 43. And be it further enacted, That all such parts When this
act shall take
of this act as authorize the appointment and qualification of effect.
inspectors, and the licensing of engineers and pilots, shall
take effect upon the passage thereof, and that all other parts
of this act shall go into effect at the times and places as follows: in the districts of New Orleans, St. Louis, Louisville,
Cincinnati, Wheeling, Pittsburg, Nashville, Mobile, and
Galveston, on the first day of January next, and in all other
districts on the first day of March next.
SEC. 44. And be it further enacted, That all parts of laws Inconsistent
heretofore made, which are suspended by or are inconsistent laws repealed.
with this act, are hereby repealed.
APPROVED, August 30, 1852.
ACT OF JULY 7, 1838,
CHAPTER 191.
An Act to provide for the better Security of the Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels
propelled in whole or in part by Steam.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the UniWfd States of America in Congress assembled, That Owners of
it shall be the duty of all owners of steamboats, or vessels steamboats to
make a newenpropelled in whole or in part by steam, on or before the first rolment and
take out a new
day of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-license.
eight, to make a new enrolment of the same, under the existing laws of the United States, and take out from the collector or surveyor of the port, as the case may be, where
such vessel is enrolled, a new license, under such conditions as are now imposed by law, and as shall be imposed
by this act.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be Shall not
lawful for the owner, master, or captain of any steamboat, grodst., or
3*




30                              ACTS OF CONGRESS
July 7, 1838. or vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam, to transport
passengers, any goods, wares, and merchandise, or passengers, in or upwithout a new on the bays, lakes, rivers, or other navigable waters of the
license.
United States, from and after the said first day of October,
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, without having first obtained, from the proper officer, a license under the
existing laws, and without having complied with the condi- Penalty for tions imposed by this act; and for each and every violation
violation of this
section.   of this section, the owner or owners of said vessel shall forfeit and pay to the United States the sum of five hundred
dollars, one half for the use of the informer; and for which
HoWrecov- sum or sums the steamboat or vessel so engaged shall be lierable.    able, and may be seized and proceeded against summarily,
by way of libel, in any District Court of the United States
having jurisdiction of the offence.
District    SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
judge to ap-  duty of the district judge of the United States, within whose
point persons
to inspect the district any ports of entry or delivery may be, on the navichiersyand   gable waters, bays, lakes, and rivers of the United States,
upon the application of the master or owner of any steamboat or vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam, to apTheir quali- point, from time to time, one or more persons skilled and
fcations and  competent to make inspections of such boats and vessels,
and of the boilers and machinery employed in the same, who
shall not be interested in the manufacture of steam-engines,
steamboat-boilers, or other machinery belonging to steamvessels, whose duty it shall be to make such inspection
when called upon for that purpose, and to give to the owner
or master of such boat or vessel duplicate certificates of such
inspection; such persons, before entering upon the duties
enjoined by this act, shall make and subscribe an oath or
affirmation before said district judge, or other officer duly
authorized to administer oaths, well, faithfully, and impartially to execute and perform  the services herein required of
them.
Inspectors of SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the person or
gthe owhulners persons who shall be called upon to inspect the hull of any
or masters a steamboat or vessel, under the provisions of this act, shall,
certificate, stating the age of after a thorough examination of the same, give to the owner
the boat, &c.




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                              31
or master, as the case may be, a certificate, in which shall July 7,1838.
be stated the age of the said boat or vessel, when and where
originally built, and the length of time the same has been
running. And he or they shall also state whether, in his or Also acertificate as to the
their opinion, the said boat or vessel is sound, and in all re- soundness of
spects seaworthy, and fit to be used for the transportation of the vessel.
freight or passengers; for which service, so performed upon
each and every boat or vessel, the inspectors shall each be Fee for inpaid and allowed, by said master or owner applying for such spection.
inspection, the sum of five dollars.
SEC. 5.  And be it further enacted, That the person or  Inspectors of
"..   1l   1l  1.   *.1, ~~the boilers to
persons who shall be called upon to inspect the boilers and make a certifimachinery of any steamboat or vessel, under the provisions cate as to the
soundness, &c.
of this act, shall, after a thorough examination of the same, of said boilers.
make a certificate, in which he or they shall state his or their
opinion whether said boilers are sound and fit for use, together with the age of said boilers; and duplicates thereof Duplicates
shall be delivered to the owner or master of such vessel, one cate to be giien
of which it shall be the duty of the said master and owner to the master
or owner, &c.
to deliver to the collector or surveyor of the port whenever
he shall apply for a license, or for a renewal of a license; the
other he shall cause to be posted up, and kept in some conspicuous part of said boat, for the information of the public;
and for each and every inspection so made, each of the said Fee for ininspectors shall be paid, by the said master or owner apply- spection.
ing, the sum of five dollars.
SEC. 6.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the  Hulls to be
duty of the owners and masters of steamboats to cause the if Pected, how
inspection provided under the fourth section of this act to be
made at least once in every twelve months; and the exami-  Boilers inspected, how
nation required by the fifth section, at least once in every often.
six months; and deliver to the collector or surveyor of the
port where his boat or vessel has been enrolled or licensed,
the certificate of such inspection; and on a failure thereof,  Penalty.
he or they shall forfeit the license granted to such boat or
vessel, and be subject to the same penalty as though he had
run said boat or vessel without having obtained such license,
to be recovered in like manner.  And it shall be the ditty of
the owners and masters of the steamboats licensed in pursu- numberofex



32                              ACTS OF CONGRESS
July 7, 1838. ance of the provisions of this act, to employ on board of their
periencedand respective boats a competent number of experienced and
skilfultenbg- skilf ul engi neers; and in case of neglect to do so, the said
neers to be em- s                            neglect
ployed.    owners and masters shall be held responsible for all damages
Penalty for
failing to do so. to the property of any passenger on board of any boat, occasioned by an explosion of the boiler or any derangement of
the engine or machinery of any boat.
Safety-valve   SEC. 7.  And be it further enacted, That whenever the
hben the yes- master of any boat or vessel, or the person or persons charged
sel stops for  with navigating said boat or vessel, which is propelled in
any purpose
whatever.    whole or in part by steam, shall stop the motion or headway
of said boat or vessel, or when said boat or vessel shall be
stopped for the purpose of discharging or taking in cargo,
fuel, or passengers, he or they shall open the safety-valve, so
as to keep the steam down in said boiler as near as practicable to what it is when the said boat or vessel is under
Penalty.   headway, under the penalty of two hundred dollars for each
and every offence.
Long-boats   SEC. 8.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
or yawls, when duty of the owner and master of every steam-vessel engaged
and where to
be carried by  in the transportation of freight or passengers, at sea or on
the Lakes Champlain, Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior, and
Michigan, the tonnage of which vessel shall not exceed two
hundred tons, to provide and to carry with the said boat or
vessel, upon each and every voyage, two long-boats or yawls,
each of which shall be competent to carry at least twenty
persons; and where the tonnage of said vessel shall exceed
two hundred tons, it shall be the duty of the owner and master to provide and carry, as aforesaid, not less than three
long-boats or yawls, of the same or larger dimensions; and
Penalty.   for every failure in these particulars, the said master and
owner shall forfeit and pay three hundred dollars.
Vessels at    SEC. 9.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the
sea or on the
lakesaforesaid duty of the master and owner of every steam-vessel emto carry suc- ployed on either of the lakes mentioned in the last section,
tion-hose, fireengine, &c.  or on the sea, to provide, as a part of the necessary furniture, a suction-hose and fire-engine and hose suitable to be
worked on said boat in case of fire, and carry the same upon
each and every voyage, in good order; and that iron rods or




RELATING TO STEAMIBOATS.                             33
chains shall be employed and used in the navigating of all July 7, 1838.
steamboats, instead of wheel or tiller ropes; and for a failure Iron rods or
to do which, they, and each of them, shall forfeit and pay cheains to beof
the sum of three hundred dollars.                            wheel or tiller
ropes.
SEC. 10.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the  Penalty.
duty of the master and owner of every steamboat, runningtobe carried by
between sunset and sunrise, to carry one or more signal vessels running
at night.
lights, that may be seen by other boats navigating the same
waters, under the penalty of two hundred dollars.              Penalty.
SEC. 11.  And be it further enacted, That the penalties  Howallpenimposed by this act may be sued for and recovered in the alties shall be
recovered.
name of the United States, in the District or Circuit Court of
such district or circuit where the offence shall have been
committed, or forfeiture incurred, or in which the owner or
master of said vessel may reside, one half to the use of the
informer, and the other to the use of the United States; or
the said penalty may be prosecuted for by indictment in either of the said courts.
SEC. 12.  And be it further enacted, That every captain,  Any person
engineer, pilot, or other person employed on board of any employed on
steamboat or vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam, which life or
lives are lost by
by whose misconduct, negligence, or inattention to his orhis inattention,
their respective duties, the life or lives of any person or per- &cityshall be
sons on board said vessel may be destroyed, shall be deemed slaughter.
guilty of manslaughter, and, upon conviction thereof before
any Circuit Court in the United States, shall be sentenced to  Punishment.
confinement at hard labor for a period not more than ten
years.
SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That in all suits and What shall
actions against proprietors of steamboats, for injuries arising be sufficientevof steamboats,                   idence to
to person or property from the bursting of the boiler of any charge the defendant, in case
steamboat, or the collapse of a flue, or other injurious escape of the bursting
of steam, the fact of such bursting, collapse, or injurious es- of a boiler, &c.
cape of steam, shall be taken as full primnd facie evidence,
sufficient to charge the defendant, or those in his employment, with negligence, until he shall show that no negligence has been committed by him, or those in his employment.
APPROVED, July 7, 1838.




34                                 ACTS OF CONGRESS
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1849.
CHAPTER 105.
An Act making Appropriations for Lighthouses, Lightboats, Buoys,,Sc., and providing
for the Erection and Establishment of the same, andfor other Purposes.
[The first four sections of this Act relate to other matters.]
Regulations   SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That vessels, steamto be observed
by vessels,   boats, and propellers, navigating the Northern and Western
steamboats, tlakes, shall, from  and after the thirtieth day of April next,
&c., navigating
the Northern  comply with the following regulations, for the security of
or Northwestern lakes inthe life and property, to wit: during the night, vessels on the
night.      starboard tack shall show a red light, vessels on the larboard
tack a green light, and vessels going off large, or before the
wind, or at anchor, a white light; steamboats and propellers
shall carry on the stem, or as far forward as possible, a triangular light, at an angle of about sixty degrees with the
horizon, and on the starboard side a light shaded green, and
on the larboard side red; said lights shall be furnished with
reflectors, &c., complete, and of a size to insure a good and
sufficient light; and if loss or damage shall occur, the owner
or owners of the vessel, steamboat, or propeller neglecting
to comply with these regulations shall be liable to the injured party for all loss or damage resulting from such neglect; and the owner or owners of any vessel failing to comPenalty.   ply with said regulations shall forfeit a penalty of one hundred dollars, which may be recovered in an action of debt,
to be brought by the district attorney of the United States,
in the name of the United States, in any court of competent
jurisdiction.
APPROVED, March 3, 1849.




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                                  35
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1843.
CHAPTER 94.
An Act to modify the Act entitled " An Act to provide for the better Security of the
Lives of Passengers on Board of Vessels propelled in whole or in part by Steam,"  Ante, p. 29.
approved July seventh, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That  Vessels proevery boat or vessel which existing laws require to be regis- pelled by steamprided
tered, and which is propelled in whole or in part by steam, with additional
steering appashall be provided with such additional apparatus or means, ratus.
as, in the opinion of the inspector of steamboats, shall be
requisite to steer the boat or vessel, to be located in such
part of the boat or vessel as the inspector may deem best to
enable the officers and crew to steer and control the boat or
vessel, in case the pilot or man at the wheel is driven from
the same by fire; and no boat or vessel, exclusively propelled by steam, shall be registered, after the passage of this
act, unless the owner, master, or other proper person shall
file with the collector or other proper officer the certificate
of the inspector, stating that suitable means have been provided to steer the boat or vessel, in case the pilot or man at
the wheel is driven therefrom by fire.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful Vessels proin all vessels or boats propelled in whole or in part by steam, apparatus reand which shall be provided with additional apparatus or quired by the
first section
means to steer the same, as required by the first section of may use hemp
this act, to use wheel or tiller ropes, composed of hemp or tiller ropes, &c.
other good and sufficient material, around the barrel or axle
of the wheel, and to a distance not exceeding twenty-two
feet therefrom, and also in connecting the tiller or rudder
yoke with iron rods or chains used for working the rudder:
Provided, That no more rope for this purpose shall be used  Proviso.
than is sufficient to extend from the connecting points of the
tiller or rudder yoke placed in any working position beyond
the nearest blocks or rollers, and give sufficient play to work
the ropes on such blocks or rollers: And provided, further,  Further proviso.




36                                ACTS OF CONGRESS
March 3, 1843. That there shall be chains extending the whole distance of
the ropes, so connected with the tiller or rudder yoke, and
attached or fastened to the tiller or rudder yoke, and the iron
chains or rods extending towards the wheel, in such manner
as will take immediate effect, and work the rudder in case
the ropes are burnt or otherwise rendered useless.
Freight ves-   SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the master and
sels propelled
by sails and  owner, and all others interested in vessels navigating Lakes
Erickson's pro- Champlain, Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior, and Michigan,
peller, not required to pro- or any of them, and which are propelled by sails and Erickvide suctionhose, &c.    son's propeller, and used exclusively in carrying freight, shall
from and after the passage of this act be exempt from liability or fine for failing to provide, as a part of the necessary
furniture of such vessel, a suction-hose and fire-engine and
hose suitable to be worked on such vessel in case of fire,
or more than one long-boat or yawl.
Proceedings   SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful
opending f9t- for the court before which any suit, information, or indictsec. Act 7th  ment is or shall be pending for the violation, before the pasJuly, 1838, ch.
191, may be  sage of this act, of so much of the ninth section of the act
discontinued. aforesaid as requires " that iron rods or chains shall be employed and used in the navigation of all steamboats, instead
of wheel and tiller ropes," to order such suit, information, or
indictment to be discontinued, on such terms as to costs as
Proviso.   the court shall judge to be just and reasonable: Provided,
That the defendant or defendants in such prosecution shall
cause it to appear, by affidavit or otherwise, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or they had failed to use iron rods
or chains in the navigation of his or their boat or boats,
from a well-grounded apprehension that such rods or chains
could not be employed for the purpose aforesaid with safety.
Experimen-   SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That in execution of
tal trials of inventionstopre- the authority vested in him  by the second section of the
vent the explo- joint resolution " authorizing experiments to be made for the
sion of steamboilers, &c.  purpose of testing Samuel Colt's submarine battery, and for
authorized    other purposes," approved August thirty-first, one thousand
eight hundred and forty-two, the Secretary of the Navy shall
appoint a board of examiners, consisting of three persons, of
thorough knowledge as to the structure and use of the steam



RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                              37
engine, whose duty it shall be to make experimental trials March 3, 1843
of such inventions and plans designed to prevent the explosion of steam-boilers and collapsing of flues, as they may
deem worthy of examination, and report the result of their
experiments, with an expression of their opinion as to the
relative merits and efficacy of such inventions and plans,
which report the Secretary shall cause to be laid before Congress at its next session.  It shall also be the duty of said
examiners to examine and report the relative strength of
copper and iron boilers of equal thickness, and what amount
of steam to the square inch each, when sound, is capable of
working with safety; and whether hydrostatic pressure, or
what other plan, is best for testing the strength of boilers
under the inspection laws; and what limitations as to the
force or pressure of steam to the square inch, in proportion
to the ascertained capacity of a boiler to resist, it would be
proper to establish by law for the more certain prevention of
explosions.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That so much of the Part of Act
act aforesaid as is inconsistent with the provisions of this f 7th J(auly,
act shall be, and the same is hereby, repealed.              29,) repealed.
APPROVED, March 3, 1843.
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1825.
CHAPTER 99.
An Act to authorize the Register or Enrolment and License to be issued in the Name
of the President or Secretary of any incorporated Company owning a Steamboat or
Vessel.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That  Enrolments
enrolments and licenses for steamboats or vessels, owned by  and licenses
any incorporated company, may be issued in the name of &c. owned by
any incorpothe president or secretary of such company; and that such ratedcompany.
enrolments and licenses shall not be vacated or affected by




38                               ACTS OF CONGRESS
March 3, 1825. a sale of any share or shares of any stockholder, or stockholders, in such company.
Register for   SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That registers for steamsteamboats.
boats or vessels, owned by any incorporated company, may
be issued in the name of the president or secretary of such
company; and that such register shall not be vacated or
affected by a sale of any share or shares of any stockholder
or stockholders in such company.
Upon the    SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That, upon the death,
death, &c. of
the president, removal, or resignation of the president or secretary of any
a nelwblicense incorporated company owning any steamboat or vessel, a
out.       new register, or enrolment and license, as the case may be,
shall be taken out for such steamboat or vessel.
Previously    SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That, previously to
to granting a
register, the  granting  a register, or enrolment and  license, for any
oath as to the steamboat or vessel owned by any company, the president
ownership of
the steamboat or secretary of such company shall swear, or affirm, as to
to be taken.  the ownership of such steamboat or vessel by such company, without designating the names of the persons composing such company; which oath, or affirmation, shall be
deemed sufficient, without requiring the oath or affirmation
of any person interested or concerned in such steamboat or
vessel.
Before grant-  SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That, before granting
ing a register,
oath that no  a register for any steamboat or vessel so owned by any insteamboat, &e.   corporated company, the president or secretary thereof shall
is owned by  swear, or affirm, that, to the best of his knowledge and beany foreigner.
lief, no part of such steamboat or vessel has been, or is then,
owned by any foreigner or foreigners.
APPROVED, March 3, 1825.




RELATING TO STEAMBOATS.                             39
ACT OF MARCH 12, 1812.
CHAPTER 40.
An Act respecting the Enrolling and Licensing of Steamboats.
Be it enacted by the Senate and HIouse of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That,  Steamboats
from  and after the passing of this act, a steamboat em- balnsging to
ployed, or intended to be employed, only in a river or bay of enrolled and
licensed.
the United States, owned wholly or in part by an alien, resident within the United States, may and shall be enrolled
and licensed, as if the same belonged to a citizen of the
United States, according to, and subject to all the conditions, limitations, and provisions contained in, the act entitled " An Act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels Act of Feb.
to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for 18, 1793, ch. 8.
regulating the same," except that, in such case, no oath or
affirmation shall be required that the said boat belongs to a
citizen or citizens of the United States.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the owner or own- Owners of
ers of such steamboats upon application for enrolment or uch boats to
Irs  of such steamboat, pon  aplication for rolment orgive bonds, &c.
license, shall give bond to the collector of the district, to and
for the use of the United States, in the penalty of one thousand dollars, with sufficient surety, conditioned, that the
said boat shall not be employed in other waters than the
rivers and bays of the United States.
APPROVED, March 12, 1812.




INDEX
TO THE FOREGOING ACTS OF CONGRESS.
ACCESS
to the upper deck, means of, 6.
ACCOMMODATIONS
for passengers, inspection as to, 8, 11.
liability for failure to provide, 17.
ALLOYS, FUSIBLE,
in or upon boilers, 9.
APPEAL
from refusal to license engineers or pilots, 15.
from revocation of license to engineers or pilots, 15.
from direction to make further repairs, &c., 14, 15.
from refusal of a certificate to a steamboat, 14.
AXES,
certain number to be carried, 6.
BERTHS,
number of, to be certified, 11.
liability for not providing lodging, 17.
BOATS,
number of, to be carried, 5.
provision respecting, in Act of 1838, 32.
modified as to certain vessels on the lakes, 36.
BOILERS,
requirements as to,
in relation to fire, 4.
fire-line, 9.
safety-valves, 9.
gauge-cocks, 9.
fusible plugs, 9.
pressure on, 9, 10.
in other respects, 9.
how subjected to hydrostatic pressure, 9, 10.
certificate as to, 11, 12.
inspectors of, to be appointed, 8. See Inspectors.
penalty for loading or obstructing safety-valve, 17.
or subjecting it to greater than allowed pressure, 17, 18.
or deranging means of indicating the pressure or approaching danger, 17, 18.
for allowing water to fall too low, 18.
of what materials to be made, 18.
penalty for making or using boilers of other materials, 18, 19.
plates for, to be stamped. See Boiler Plates.
penalty for navigating steamboat with insufficient, 23.
provisions of Act of 1838 for inspection of, 30, 31.
experiments to test, 36, 37.




INDEX.                                       41
BOILER-PLATES,
inspection of quality of, 18.
mode of manufacture of, 18, 19.
to be stamped, 19.
BOND,
vessel may be released from marshal by giving, 17, 27.
provision of Act of 1812 for, before taking out enrolment or license, 39.
BUCKETS,
certain number to be carried, 6.
BURNING-FLUIDS
not to be carried as freight but by license, 6, 22.
how to be packed, 6, 7.
penalty for shipping or putting up for shipment unless so packed, 7.
license to carry, 12, 13.
to be posted up, 22.
CAMPHENE. See Dangerous Articles.
CANALS.
Act of 1852, ch. 106, not to apply to certain steamers navigating canals, 28, 29.
CERTIFICATES,
form of inspectors', 11, 12.
to carry certain dangerous articles, 12, 13.
record of granting or refusing, to be kept, 13.
originals to be delivered to collector, 13.
appeal from refusal to grant, 14.
to engineers and pilots, 13, 14.
appeal, 14.
after refusal not to be granted by another board, 15, 16.
where it is inconvenient to resort to the local board, or there is none, 16,21.
penalty for navigating steamboats without, or in violation of, 4, 16, 23.
certified copies of, to be delivered, 22.
and kept posted, 22.
penalty for giving false, 22, 23.
provisions of Act of 1838 respecting, 30, 31.
of Act of 1843, 35.
CHIEF OFFICER OF THE CUSTOMS. See Collectors.
CIRCUIT COURT,
penalties may be sued for in, 28.
penalties under Act of 1838 may be sued for and recovered in, 33.
indictment for manslaughter in, 33.
COLLECTION DISTRICTS,
inspectors to be appointed in certain, 7.
provisions where there is no local board, or it is inconvenient to resort to it, 16, 21.
COLLECTORS OR OTHER CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS
to act in appointing inspectors, 7.
certificates of inspection and of licenses to carry dangerous articles to be delivered to, 13.
local board to report all their doings to, 16, 25.
to report to each other (except of San Francisco) names of vessels refused a license, 21, 22.
names of pilots and engineers licensed or refused, or when license is revoked or sqtspended, 21, 22.
names of vessels neglecting or refusing to repair, 21, 22.
to enforce steamboat law of 1852, 22.
penalty for neglect, 22.
to lose office for neglect, 22.
to give certified copies of certificates and licenses, 22.
to receive certain fees before issuing the annual license, 24, 25.
inspectors to pay fees to, 25.
to account for fees, 25.
to pay witnesses, 16.
COLLISION.
rules for passing to be established and kept posted, 23, 24.
liability for damage in case of, 24.
not justifiable where rules for passing are neglected, 24.
COMPENSATION
of supervising inspectors, 20.
of local inspectors, 25, 26.
4*




42                                       INDEX.
COMPENSATION. (Continued.)
of witnesses, 13.
COPIES
of inspectors' certificates and licenses to carry dangerous articles, one to be kept posted, 22.
of rules for passing to be posted up, 24, 25.
of steamboat act to be furnished to each steamboat and kept on board, 27.
to be exhibited to passengers on reasonable request, 27.
CORPORATIONS,
registry of steamboats owned by, 37, 38.
COUNTERFEITING
marks or stamps on boiler-plates, penalty for, 19.
COURTS. See Circuit Court, District Court.
DAMAGE, LIABILITY FOR,
from bursting of boiler, &c., 33, 34.
from neglect to comply with requirements of inspectors, 15.
from neglect to observe Act of 1852, 24.
from neglect to observe rules for passing, 23, 24.
from using marks or stamps of another on boiler-plates, 19.
from taking too many passengers, 17.
from neglect to provide proper accommodations, and from detentions, 17.
in case of neglect to stop on rivers when pilot or engineer thinks navigation is dangerous, 23
bursting of boiler, &c. made prinmdfacie evidence of neglect, 33, 34.
for neglect as to signal lights, 34.
DANGER,
obligation to stop on rivers in case of, 23.
penalty for deranging means of indicating approach of, 17, 18.
of fire, precautions against, 4, 5.
DANGEROUS ARTICLES,
certain, not to be carried as freight except by license, 6.
penalty, 22.
how to be packed, 6, 7.
penalty for shipping or putting up for shipment unless so packed, 7.
license to carry, 12, 13.
to be kept posted up, 22.
DECK,
access to upper deck, means of, 6.
DETENTION,
liability for damage in case of, 17.
DISTRICT COURTS,;udge of, to act in appointment of local inspectors, 7.
penalties under Steamboat Acts of 1852 and 1838 may be sued for in, 4, 28, 30, 33.
judge of, to appoint inspectors under Act of 1838, 30.
DISTRICTS, COLLECTION,
local inspectors to be appointed in certain, 7.
provision where there is no local board, or it is inconvenient to resort to it, 16, 21.
ENGINEERS ON STEAMBOATS
to be examined, licensed for one year, and classified, 13,14.
revocation or suspension of licenses to, 14, 16.
appeal in case of refusal of license, 14.
one local board not to grant a license refused by another, 15.
unlicensed, not to be employed, 14, 15.
to assist inspectors and answer their questions, 17, 20.
to give information of accidents, 17.
management of boilers. See Boilers.
supervising inspectors to report delinquents, and cause them to be prosecuted, 20.
names of, to be reported by collectors to each other in case of a license, or its refusal, suspension, or revocation, 21, 22.
steamers on rivers to be stopped when they report navigation dangerous, 23.
liability for damage from negligence, 24.
fees for licenses, 25.
to take an oath, 27.
penalty for false swearing, 27.
provisions of Act of 1838 respecting, 32.
when guilty of manslaughter, 33.




INDEX.                                       43
ENROLMENTS
not to issue till Act of 1852, ch. 106, is complied with, 4.
provisions of Act of 1838 respecting, 29.
of steamboats owned by corporations, 37, 38.
Act of 1812 respecting, 38.
EVIDENCE.
fact of explosion to be primdcfacie evidence of negligence, 33, 34.
EXAMINATION
of pilots and engineers, 13, 14.
of steamboats and boilers. See Inspection
EXPLOSION,
liability in case of, 24.
FALSE CERTIFICATES,
penalty on inspectors for giving, 22, 23.
FEES
for steamboat inspections, 24, 25.
for licenses to engineers and pilots, 24, 25.
penalty on inspectors for taking rewards or illegal fees, 27.
FERRY-BOATS,
steam, Act of 1852 not to apply to, 28.
FIRE-ENGINES,
provision in Acts of 1838 and 1843 respecting, 33, 36.
FIRE-LINE,
inspection as to, 9.
FIRES,
precautions against, 4, 5.
access to upper deck in case of, 6.
For provisions respecting axes, boats, buckets,floats, pumps, life-preservers, and dangerous
articles, see those titles.
FLOATS,
steamboats to be provided with, 5, 6.
FLUES,
inspection as to, 9.
FOGS,
stopping in case of, required, 23.
FOOD,
liability for insufficiency of, 17.
FRICTION.
For provisions respecting articles which ignite by, see Dangerous Articles.
FUSIBLE ALLOYS
in or upon boilers, 9.
penalty for deranging, &c., 17, 18.
GAUGE-COCKS
to boilers, 9.
GUNPOWDER,
carriage of, as freight. See Dangerous Articles.
HEMP,
carriage of, as freight. See Dangerous Articles.
HOSE
to pumps, requisitions as to, 5.
suction, to fire-engines, 33, 36.
HULLS OF STEAMBOATS,
inspectors of, to be appointed, 7, 8.
duties as to inspection of, 4, 5, 6, 15.
appeal from action of local inspectors, 14, 15.
repairs to, where to be made, 15, 16.
inspection of, where there is no local board, or it is inconvenient to resort to it, 16, 21.
further requirements may be made as to, 15.
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE,
how boilers are to be subjected to, 8, 9, 10.
INSPECTION
of steamboats to be made yearly, 8.




44                                         INDEX.
INSPECTION.  (Continued.)
of boilers before used, and yearly afterwards, 8.
how made, 8, 9, 10.
as to allowable working pressure, 10.
certificates of. form of, 11, 12
to be signed and sworn to, 12.
to be delivered to the collector, 13.
record of, 13.
appeal from refusal to grant, 14.
to be kept posted, 22.
where there is no local board, or it is inconvenient to resort to it, 16, 21.
to be promptly made, 15.
made by any inspector interested or associated with those in interest to be void, 21.
of ocean mail steamers, 28.
under Act of 1838, 30, 31.
of boiler-plates, 19, 20.
INSPECTORS, LOCAL,
to be appointed in certain collection districts, 7
qualifications of, 8.
approval of, 8.
their pay, 25, 26.
expenses of, how defrayed, 20.
fees for licenses, 25.
penalty on, for taking bribes or illegal fees, 27.
to make inspections. See Inspection.
to report all their doings to collectors, 16.
violations of Act of 1852, ch. 106, 16.
to keep records, 13, 25.
to report semiannually to collector, 25.
to supervising inspector, 13.
to license pilots and engineers.  See Licenses.
to examine steamers arriving and departing, 15.
may make further requirements, 15.
powers in districts where there is no local board, 16.
may summon witnesses, 16.
delinquent, may be removed, 20, 21.
not to act when interested or associated with those in interest, 21.
to enforce Act of 1852, ch. 106, 22.
rules and regulations to be established for, 19, 20.
penalty on, for giving false certificates, 22, 23.
to be provided with testing instruments, 26.
Acts of 1838 respecting, 29.
INSPECTORtS, SUPERVISING.  See Supervising Inspectors.
INSTRUMENTS OF INSPECTION
to be provided by the Secretary of the Treasury, 26.
expense of transporting to be paid, 20.
INTERROGATO RIES
respecting boilers and engines, &c., to be prepared and addressed to skilful persons, 27, 28.
answers to be reported to Congress, 28.
engineers and pilots bound to answer, 17, 20.
IRON RODS OR CHAINS
for working the rudder, 33, 35.
LIABILITY TO PASSENGERS,
of owners and masters, for neglect to comply with requirements of inspectors, 15.
for taking too many passengers, 17.
for insufficient food or accommodations, 17.
for detention, 17.
for negclect to observe the rules of passing, 23, 24.
for neglect to observe Act of 1852, 24.
for neglect to stop on rivers when warned by pilot or engineer, 23.
lien on vessels for, 27.
of engineers and pilots,
for neglect to observe Act of 1852, 24.
for negligence, &c., 24.
for neglect to observe the rules for passing, 17.




INDEX.                                       45
LIABILITY TO PASSENGERS. (Continued.)
bursting, &c. of boiler made primdfacie evidence of neglect, 33, 34.
for neglect as to signal lights, 34.
LICENSES
to steamboats not to issue till Act of 1852, ch. 106, is complied with, 4.
to carry certain dangerous articles on freight, when required, 6, 7, 12, 13.
record of, to be kept, 13.
certified copies of; to be given and kept posted, 22.
to pilots and engineers, required in all cases, 13.
by whom to be given, 13, 14.
appeal from refusal to give, 14.
revocation or suspension of, 14, 16.
not to be given by one board after refusal by another, 15.
record of, to be kept, 13.
doings of local board respecting, to be reported to supervising inspectors, 13.
to be reported by collectors to each other, 21.
under Act of 1838, 30.
LIEN ON STEAMBOATS
for violation of Act of 1852, ch. 106, 4, 27.
LIFE-BOATS
to be provided, 5.
LIFE-PRESERVERS OR FLOATS
to be provided, 5, 6.
LIGHTS, SIGNAL,
in the night, provision respecting, 33, 34.
LIST OF PASSENGERS,
provision for the keeping of, 26.
to be open to inspection of inspectors and officers of the customs, 26.
penalty for neglect respecting, 26, 27.
LOCAL INSPECTORS. See Inspectors.
MAIL STEAMERS
convertible into war steamers, inspection of, 28, 29.
MANSLAUGHTER,
officer or employer, by whose negligence, &c. life is lost, to be deemed guilty of, 33.
indictment for, 33.
MARKS ON BOILER-PLATES
required, and how to be made, 18, 19.
penalty for counterfeiting, 19.
liability for using the marks of another, 19.
MASTERS,
liabilities of, to passengers. See Liability.
penalties on. See Penalties.
bound to answer inquiries of inspectors, 20.
MATES
bound to assist inspectors, point out defects, and inform of accidents, 17.
NAVIGATION OF STEAMBOATS,
penalty for, when certificate is not complied with, 23.
liability for, when orders of inspectors are not complied with, 15.
to what steamboats the Act of 1852 is to apply, 4, 28.
NIGHT,
signal lights during, 33, 34.
OARS,
requisition as to, 5.
OATH
of pilots and engineers, 27.
of inspectors to certificates, 12.
violation of, by witnesses, &c., penalty for, 27.
of inspectors under Act of 1838, 30.
OCEAN STEAMERS
convertible into war steamers, inspection of, 28, 29.
OILS,
carriage of certain, on freight, regulations as to. See Dangerous Articles.




46                                         INDEX.
OWNERS,
liabilities of, to passengers.  See Liability.
penalties on. See Penalties.
PASSENGERS,
inspector's certificate to contain the allowed number of, 11.
remedy for damages of, from detention or insufficient food or accommodations, 17.
list of, to be kept on board, 26.
to be open to inspection of inspectors and officers of the customs, 26.
to have the right, on request, to see this Act. 27.
remedies of, for damages. See Liabilities.
PASSING,
rules for, to be established and published, 23, 24.
to be kept posted up, 24.
liability for damages for neglect of rules for, 24.
PENALTIES,
on masters and owners, for navigating steamboats without compliance with Act of 1852,
4, 16, 22, 23.
for employing unlicensed engineers or pilots, 14, 15.
for taking too many passengers, 17, 27.
for navigating without certificates and licenses posted up, 22.
for violating rules for passing, 24.
for not keeping list of passengers, 26, 27.
for not keeping or exhibiting on request copies of Act of 1852, 27.
for navigating without conforming to the certificate in accommodations, &c., 23.
on pilots and engineers, for serving without license, 14, 15.
on inspectors, for taking rewards or illegal fees, 27.
on witnesses, for false swearing, 27.
how sued for and recovered, 28.
for carrying certain dangerous articles without license, 6.
for shipping, or putting up for shipment, certain dangerous articles, unless packed as required, 6, 7.
for deranging or obstructing means of regulating or indicating pressure or approach of
danger, 17, 18.
for allowing the water to fall below the water-line, 18.
for making or using boilers except of allowed materials, 19.
for counterfeiting, &c. stamps or marks on boiler-plates, 19.
for using marks of another on boiler-plates, 19.
on collectors, &c. and steamboat-inspectors, for not enforcing this law, 22.
for false certificates of inspection, 22, 23.
under Act of 1838, 30, 32, 33.
for not opening safety-valves, 32.
for not showing proper lights, 33, 34.
PERJURY,
false swearing before inspectors to be deemed, 27.
PILOTS
required to take out licenses yearly, 14.
licenses to. See Licenses.
penalties on.  See Penalties.
to take an oath, 27.
to assist inspectors, 16, 17.
to answer inquiries of inspectors, 17, 20.
to inform them of accidents, 17.
PRESERVERS, LIFE,
provisions as to, 5, 6
PRESSURE ON BOILER,
certificate of inspection to mention the allowed, 11, 12.
hydrostatic, boilers how subjected to, 9, 10.
examination and report as to, 28, 37.
PUMPS,
requisitions respecting, 4, 5.
RECORD
to be kept by inspectors, 13, 25.
REGISTER
not to issue to steamboats not complying with Act of 1852, ch. 106, 4.




INDEX.                                        47
REGISTER. (Continued.)
Act of 1812 respecting, 39.
of steamboats owned by corporations, 37, 38.
provisions of Act of 1838 respecting, 29.
REPAIRS,
where to be made, 15, 16.
REPEAL
of inconsistent acts, 28.
REPORT
by collectors to each other, of names of pilots and engineers licensed, 21, 22.
of refusals, suspensions, or revocations of license, 21, 22.
of vessels not observing requirements, 21, 22.
by local inspectors to collectors, 16, 25.
to supervising inspectors, 13.
by supervising inspectors to Secretary of the Treasury, 21, 28.
by Secretary of the Treasury to Congress, respecting steamboats, 28.
by supervising inspectors to local board, of violations of Act of 1852, ch. 106, 20, 21.
REVOCATION
of licenses. See Licenses.
RUDDERS,
provisions of Acts of 1838 and 1843 respecting iron rods or chains to, 33, 35.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
for passing, to be established, 23, 24.
penalty and liability for non-compliance with, 24.
for local boards, may be established by supervising inspectors, 19, 20, 21.
SAFETY-VALVES,
inspection as to, 9.
one may take from control of the navigator, 9.
statement of, in certificates, 11.
penalty for deranging, loading, &c., 17, 18.
to be opened when vessel stops, 32.
penalty for neglect, 32
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
local inspectors to be approved by, 8.
to pay salaries of supervising inspectors and local inspectors, 25.
to allow and pay inspectors' expenses, 20.
to provide testing( instruments, 26.
to give directions as to inquiries for information respecting steamboats, boilers, &c., 27, 28.
to report the same to Congress with his own recommendations, 28.
to direct the mode of stamping boiler-plates, 19.
SIGNAL LIGHTS,
provisions respecting, in Acts of 1838 and 1849, 33, 34.
STAMPS ON BOILER-PLATES,
provision for, 19.
penalty for counterfeiting, &c., 19.
penalty and liability for using stamp of another person, 19.
STATE-ROOMS,
certificate to mention number of, 11.
penalty for not having the accommodations mentioned, 23.
STEAMBOATS CARRYING PASSENGERS
not to have papers issued, without compliance with Act of 1852, 4.
inspection of. See Inspection.
employment of pilots and engineers. See those titles.
carriage by, of certain dangerous articles on freight. See Dangerous Articles.
penalties on owners and officers of. See Penalties.
liabilities of owners and officers of, to passengers. See Liabilities.
to keep on board two copies of Act of 1852, ch. 106, and exhibit the same on request, 27.
what are not subjected to Act of 1852, 28.
register, enrolment, and licenses of. See those titles.
STEAMERS, OCEAN,
convertible into war steamers, inspection of, 28, 29.
STEERING,
iron ropes or chains to be provided for, 33.
exception, 35.




48                                       INDEX.
STOPPING,
requirements as to, on rivers, when navigation is dangerous, 23.
SUPERVISING INSPECTORS,
nine to be appointed, 19, 20.
qualifications of, 19, 20.
to meet at least yearly, 19, 20.
to establish rules, &c., for themselves and local boards, 20.
to assign their own limits, 20.
pay of, 20.
provision for expenses of, 20.
general provision as to duties of, 20, 21, 22.
to report delinquencies, 20, 21.
powers where there is no local board, or it is inconvenient to resort to it, 21.
not to act when interested or associated with those interested, 21.
to keep an account of steamers boarded, 25.
to report it semiannually, 25.
penalty for receiving rewards or illegal fees, 27.
to receive information as to steamboats, &c., and transmit it to Secretary of the Treasury, 27.
to act in appointment of local inspectors, 7.
reexamination by, of acts of local boards, 15.
local boards to report their doings as to licenses to, 13.
TILLER.  See Rudder.
TOW-BOATS,
Act of 1852, ch. 106, not to apply to, 28.
TREASURY. See Secretary of the Treasury.
fees to be paid into, by collectors and inspectors, 25
TUG-BOATS,
Act of 1852, ch. 106, not to apply to, 28.
WATER-LINE,
requisitions as tc, 9.
penalty for allowing water in the boiler to fall below, 18.
WITNESSES,
inspectors may summon, 16.
their fees, 16.
penalty on, for false swearing, 27.
YAWLS,
provision respecting, in Act of 1843, 32, 36.