person so appointed. Every inspector provided for in this or the preceding sections of this title shall be paid his actual and reasonable traveling expenses or mileage, at the rate of five cents a mile, incurred in the perform ance of his duties, together with his actual and reasonable expenses for transportation of instruments, which shall be certified and sworn to under such instructions as shall be given by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. Fb. 15, 1897. Mileage, etc. andappointment ak * * an inspector of hulls, shall [be] a person of Qualifications good character and suitable qualifications and attainments of local inspect to perform the services required of inspectors of hulls, R. S., 4415. and who, from his practical knowledge of shipbuilding and navigation and the uses of steam in navigation, is fully competent to make a reliable estimate of the strength, sea-worthiness, and other qualities of the hulls of steamvessels and their equipment, deemed essential to safety of life in their navigation; and an inspector of boilers, shall [be] a person of good character and suitable qualifications and attainments to perform the services required of inspectors of boilers, who, from his knowledge and experience of the duties of an engineer employed in navigating vessels by steam, and also of the construction and use of boilers, and machinery, and appurtenances therewith connected, is able to form a reliable opinion of the strength, form, workmanship, and suitableness of boilers and machinery to be employed without hazard to life, from imperfection in the material, workmanship, or arrangement of any part of such apparatus for steaming. No appointment of an inspector of hulls or an inspector of boilers shall be made without the concurrence of the supervising inspector. The inspector of hulls and the inspector of boilers thus Local boards. designated, when approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, shall, from the date of designation, constitute a board of local inspectors. What persons are not eligible. No person interested, either directly or indirectly, in any patented article required to be used on any steamer by this R. S., 4416. Title, or who is a member of any association of owners, masters, engineers, or pilots of steamboats, or who is directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in any steamvessel, or who has not the qualifications and acquirements prescribed by this Title, or who is intemperate in his habits, shall be eligible to hold the office of either supervising or local inspector, or to discharge the duties thereof; and if any such person shall attempt to exercise the functions of the office of either inspector, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars, and shall be dismissed from office. a Under a decision of the Attorney-General, so much of section 4415 as requires the board of designators therein named to make the designation for appointment of a local inspector is claimed to be repealed by the civil-service act. Inspection of hulls. R. S., 4417. Annual inspection. Dec. 21, 1898. Sec. The local inspectors shall, once in every year, at least, upon application in writing of the master or owner, care fully inspect the hull of each steam-vessel within their respective districts, and 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 passengers and the crew, 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, anchors, cables, and other things, are faithfully complied with; and if they deem it expedient, they may direct the vessel to be put in motion, and may adopt any other suitable means to test her sufficiency and that of her equipment. The local inspectors shall, once in every year, at least, or upon application in writing of the master or owner, (30 Stat., 765.) carefully inspect the hull of each sail vessel of over seven hundred tons and all other vessels and barges of over one hundred tons burden carrying passengers for hire within their respective districts, and 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 the crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation with safety to life. Inspection of boilers. R. S., 4418. The local inspectors shall also inspect the boilers of all steam-vessels before the same shall be used, and once at least in every year thereafter. They shall subject all boilers to the hydrostatic pressure; and shall satisfy themselves by thorough examination 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 and around the flues are sufficient; that the flues are circular in form; that the fire line of the furnace is at least two inches below the prescribed minimum water-line of the boilers; that the arrangement for delivering the feed-water is such that the boilers can not be injured thereby; and that such boilers and machinery, and the appurtenances, may be safely employed in the service proposed in the written application, without peril to life. They shall also satisfy themselves that the safety-valves are of suitable dimensions, sufficient in number, and well arranged; and that the weights of the safety-valves are properly adjusted, so as to allow no greater pressure in the boilers than the amount prescribed by the inspection certificate; that there June 19, 1886. is a sufficient number of gauge-cocks properly inserted and suitable steam gauges to indicate the pressure of steam; and that there are reliable low-water gauges; and that the fusible metals are properly inserted so as to fuse by the (24 Stat., 82.) Sec. 14. heat of the furnace, whenever the water in the boilers falls below its prescribed limits; 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 top of the flues; and that means for blowing out are provided, so as to thoroughly remove the mud and sediment from all parts of the boilers, when they are under pressure of steam. * * * a All boilers used on steam-vessels and constructed of iron or steel plates, inspected under the provisions of section forty-four hundred and thirty, shall be subjected to a hydrostatic test, in the ratio of one hundred and fifty pounds to the square inch to one hundred pounds to the square inch of the working steam-power allowed. No boiler or pipe, nor any of the connections therewith, shall be approved, which is made, in whole or in part, of bad material, or is unsafe in its form, or dangerous from defective workmanship, age, use, or other cause. * ** be Control of safety-valves. R. S., 4419. June 19, 1886. (24 Stat., 82.) Certificate ot One of the safety-valves may, if in the opinion of the local inspectors it is necessary to do so, taken wholly from the control of all persons engaged in navigating such vessel and secured by the inspectors. When the inspection of a steam-vessel is completed and inspection. the inspectors approve the vessel and her equipment R. S., 4421. throughout, they shall make and subscribe a certificate to the collector or other chief officer of the customs of the district in which such inspection has been made, in accordance with the form and regulations prescribed by the board of supervising inspectors. Such certificate shall be verified by the oaths of inspectors signing it [,] before the chief officer of the customs of the district, or any other person competent by law to administer oaths. If the inspectors refuse to grant a certificate of approval, they shall make a statement in writing, and sign the same, giving the reasons for their disapproval. License to carry Upon the application of any master or owner of any gunpowder. steam-vessel employed in the carriage of passengers, for R. S., 1422. a license to carry gunpowder, the local inspectors shall examine such vessel, and if they find that she is provided with a chest or safe composed of metal, or entirely lined and sheathed therewith, or if the vessel has one or more compartments thoroughly lined and sheathed with metal, at a secure distance from any fire, they may grant a certificate to that effect, authorizing such vessel to carry as freight within such chest, safes, or compartments, the article of gunpowder. Disposal of cer Every collector or other chief officer of the customs tificate of inspec shall retain on file all original certificates of the inspectors tion. 23. required to be delivered to him, and shall give to the mas " Part omitted virtually expired by limitation February 28, 1872. sengers or gun ter or owner of the vessel therein named three certified copies thereof; two of which shall be placed by such master or owner in conspicuous places in the vessel where they will be most likely to be observed by passengers and others, and there kept at all times, framed under glass; and the other shall be retained by such master or owner, as evidence of the authority thereby conferred. Carrying pas- Whenever any passenger is received on board any powder contrary steam-vessel not having the certified copies of the certificate of approval placed and kept as required by this Title, or whenever any passenger steam-vessel receives or carries any gunpowder on board, not having a certificate authorizing the same, and a certified copy thereof placed and kept as required, or shall carry any gunpowder at a place or in a manner not authorized by such certificate, such steam-vessel shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each offense." to law. R. S., 4424. Inspector certifying falsely. R. S., 4425. canal-boats, Every inspector who willfully certifies falsely touching any steam-vessel, as to her hull, accommodations, boilers, engines, machinery, or their appurtenances, or any of her equipments, or any matter or thing contained in any certificate signed and sworn to by him, shall be punished by fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both." Ferry-boats, The hull and boilers of every ferry-boat, canal-boat, yacht, or other small craft of like character, propelled by steam, shall be inspected under the provisions of this Title. Such other provisions of law for the better security of life, as may be applicable to such vessels, shall, by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors, also be required to be complied with, before a certificate of inspection shall be granted; and no such vessel shall be navigated without a licensed engineer and a licensed pilot: "Provided, however, That in open steam-launches of ten tons burden and under, one person, if duly qualified, may serve in the double capacity of pilot and engineer." Dec. 22, 1890. Jan. 18, 1897. freight-boats, etc. R. S., 4427. "All vessels of above fifteen tons burden, carrying freight or passengers for hire, propelled by gas, fluid, naphtha, or electric motors, shall be, and are hereby, made subject to all the provisions of section forty-four hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to the inspection of hulls and boilers and requiring engineers and pilots.' Tug-boats. The hull and boiler of every tug-boat, towing-boat, and freight-boat shall be inspected, under the provisions of this Title; and the inspectors shall see that the boilers, machinery, and appurtenances of such vessel are not dangerous in form or workmanship, and that the safety-valves, gaugecocks, low-water alarm-indicators, steam-gauges, and fusible plugs are all attached in conformity to law; and the a See sections 4472, 4474-4476, pages 136, 137, 138. See section 5482, page 145. officers navigating such vessels shall be licensed in conformity with the provisions of this Title, and shall be subject to the same provisions of law as officers navigating passenger-steamers. lowed on board July 9, 1886. Feb. 23, 1901. (31 Stat., 801.) That any steam vessel engaged in the business of towing, Persons alvessels, rafts, or water craft of any kind, also steam ves- certain vessels. sels engaged in oyster dredging and planting, and fishing (24 Stat., 129.) steamers engaged in food fishing on the Great Lakes and all other inland waters of the United States, and not carrying passengers, may be authorized and licensed by the supervising inspector of the district in which said steamer shall be employed to carry on board such number of persons, in addition to its crew, as the supervising inspector, in his judgment, shall deem necessary to carry on the legitimate business of such towing, oyster and fishing steamers, not exceeding, however, one person to every net ton of measurement of said steamer: Provided, however, That the person so allowed to be carried shall not be carried for hire. ers. preservJuly 9, 1886. Every steam vessel licensed under the foregoing section Life shall carry and have on board, in accessible places, one life-preserver for every person allowed to be carried, inStat., 129.) addition to those provided for the crew of such vessel. Sec. 2, Construction of boilers. Every boiler manufactured to be used on steam-vessels, and made of iron or steel plates, shall be constructed of R. S. 4428. plates that have been stamped in accordance with the provisions of this Title. struction of boil R. S. 4429. Every person who constructs a boiler, or steam-pipe Improper conconnecting the boilers, to be used on steam-vessels, of ers. iron or steel plates which have not been duly stamped and inspected according to the provisions of this Title, or who knowingly uses any defective, bad, or faulty iron or steel in the construction of such boilers; or who drifts any rivet-hole to make it come fair; or who delivers any such boiler for use, knowing it to be imperfect in its flues, flanging, riveting, bracing, or in any other of its parts, shall be fined one thousand dollars, one-half for the use of the informer. Nothing in this Title shall be so construed as to prevent from being used, on any steamer, any boiler or steam-generator which may not be constructed of riveted iron or steel plates, when the board of supervising inspectors have satisfactory evidence that such boiler or steam generator is equal in strength, and as safe from explosion, as a boiler of the best quality constructed of riveted iron or steel plates. Provided, however, That Aug. 7, 1882. the Secretary of Commerce and Labor may grant permission to use any boiler or steam generator not constructed of riveted iron or steel plates upon the certificate of the supervising inspector of steamboats for the district wherein such boiler or generator is to be used, and other satisfactory proof that the use of the same is safe and efficient; said (22 Stat., 310.) |