Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 16.djvu/478

 444 FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. HI. Ch. 100. 1871. Qi¤li¤¤¤*¤i<>¤¤» from his practical knowledge of ship-building and navigation and the Duseg fL:Q;'E'P°°°°" of steam in navigation, shall be fully competent to make a reliable ° estimate of the strength, seaworthiness, and other qualrties of the bulls of steamers and their equipment deemed essential to saf [e]ty of life in the navigation of such vessél, to be called the inspector of hulls; and ofinspsctors when designating an inspector of boilers, to select 0. person of good °H’°u°“· character and suitable qualifications and attaiumeuts to perform the sei-. vices required of him by this act, who, from his knowledge and experience of the duties of an engineer employed 'in navigating ·vesse1s by steam, and also in the construction and use of boilers, and machinery, and appurtenances therewith connected, shall be able to form a reliable opinion of the strength, form, workmanship, and suitableness of such 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 Inspector of steaming, to be called the inspector of boilers; and these two persons, Sguaagxgf b°“‘ when approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, shall, from the date of Pm6d, g,,,?`,,, designation, constitute a board of local inspectors, and shall be empowered constitute board and required to perform the duties herein specified, to wit :——
 * 2°°“l “‘P°°°` First. Upon application in writing of the master or owner they shall,

_ Their duties once in every year at least, carefully inspect the hull of each steamer {:`{r:P°¤“°¤ °f within their respective districts, and shall satis? themselves that every ’ such vessel so submitted to their inspection is 0 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; end 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 suf- Hciency and that of her equipment. ofboilers; Second. They shall also inspect the boilers of all stcamers before the same shall be used, and once at least in every year thereafter, subjecting them to the hydrostatic pressure prescribed by this act, and satisfy themselves by thorough examination that the boilers are well made, of good and suitable material; that the opcnin s 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 dues are sufficient, end that the ilues are circular in form, and the fire-line of the furnace is at least two inches below the prescribed minimum water-line of the boilers; and that the arrangement for delivering the fced·wuter is such that the boilers cannot be injured thereby; 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, and well arranged, (one of which muy, if necessary, in the opinion of the inspectors, to secure safety, be taken wholly from the control of all persons engaged in navigating such vessel, and secured by the inspectors,) and that the weights of the safety-valves are properly adjusted, so es to allow no greater pressure in the boilers than the amount prescribed by the inspection certificate; that there is a sufficient number of gauge-cocks properly inserted, and to indicate the pressure of steam, suitable steam registers that will correctly rccord each excess of steam carried above the prescribed limit and the highest point attained, which shall be taken wholly from the control of all persons engaged in navigating such vessel, and secured by the inspectors, and reliable low-water gauges; and that fusible metals are properly iuserted so as to fuse by the heat of the furnace when the water in the borlers shell fall below its prescribed limits ; and that adequate and certain provisions ts made for an ample supply of water to feed the boilers at