British Whig (Kingston, ON), April 24, 1883

p.1

STEAMBOAT REQUIREMENTS.

The rules and regulations framed by the Board of Steamboat Inspectors in reference to boilers, life boats, and the duties and liabilities of engineers has been given to the public.

Rule 1 - Engineers are required in all cases upon stopping the engine to open the safety valve, the furnace doors or close the dampers, and when the water in the boiler has fallen below the point of safety to put out the fires.

Rule 2 - Engineers shall keep the fire pumps and hose and their connections ready for immediate use, and when found unfit for use shall report their condition to the Inspector.

Rule 3 - Engineers, when laying up a steamer or leaving her, are required to report to the owner and Inspector any defects or injury to the boilers or machinery by which the safety of the same may be endangered. They shall also report to the Inspector any accident happening to the boilers or machinery during the trip, and in case of omission, the license of the engineer shall be revoked.

Rule 4 - The Chief Engineer of a steamer is held accountable by the Board for the proper care and management of the boilers and machinery under his charge. He is in no case to absent himself from the vessel while on her regular trips unless a competent substitute be provided.

Rule 5 - Engineers on first taking charge of a steamer, and at least once a year thereafter, shall satisfy themselves that the braces, stays and pins of the boiler are in good order, and sufficient for the strain to which they may be subjected; they shall also satisfy themselves that the safety valves are in good working order and sufficient for the requirements in Rule 1.

Life boats must be built whale boat fashion, both ends alike, and of galvanized iron. They must have a sheer of about 3/4 inch to a foot, rising equally from amidship to the stem and stern, and have sufficient strong and serviceable air tight compartments, so constructed, fitted and arranged that water cannot find its way into them. Zinc is not to be used in the construction of the boat or her air casings, and the air-tight compartments must be so distributed as to give the boat buoyancy. The life boat must be provided with the full complement of oars properly secured, two plugs for each plug hole attached with lanyards or chains, a bailer, rudder and tiller also attached to the boat by lanyards, a hatchet attached with a lanyard should be kept in each end of the boat, and a painter and boat hook. Means for detaching speedily the life boat from the lower blocks of the davit tackles must be provided. The boats davits must be strong enough and so spaced that the boat can be swung out without unnecessary labor, that the boat chocks can be expeditiously removed and that the boat will not foul the ship's sides in lowering when the ship has no list, and that the whole of the tackling, davits, falls, blocks, eye bolts and rings, etc., are of sufficient strength to lower the boat with its full complement on board.

p.2

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The str. Pierrepont began her trips to Gananoque this afternoon.

The schr. North Star is loading barley at Eilbeck's elevator for Oswego.

The steam barge Belle Wilson has been chartered to carry lumber from Trenton to Oswego for Gilmour & Co.

The steam barge Reliance has cleared for Oswego with lumber and posts. The schr. Eureka has left for Charlotte with posts.

The schr. Acacia has cleared for Oswego with the cargo of barley which was stored in her during the winter. She got a 2 1/2 cent rate.

The people of Lancaster, Cornwall and Valleyfield threaten to run the str. F.B. Maxwell in opposition to the strs. St. Frances and Bohemian to Montreal.

The str. Shannon, which, as the John Greenway, was the first boat to ply regularly between Napanee and Picton, now lying in Picton harbor, is to be raised and rebuilt.

All the steamers on the Royal Mail Line here had their furnaces changed so that they will burn coal. The four strs. on the line will be the Corinthian, Algerian, Corsican and Passport.

The carrying rates established are: Ash lumber to Oswego 75 cents per M.; posts, 80 cents per cord to Oswego and 90 cents per cord to Charlotte. The rates for pine lumber will be lower than on ash.

The Kingston & Montreal Forwarding Company have already made several contracts to carry wheat to Montreal at 2 1/4 cents, and corn at 2 1/2 cents, canal tolls paid. The Company's fleet in the coal service from Oswego to Montreal will be five barges, with a total tonnage of 120,000 tons.

The sail makers have had a very busy season. Oldrieve & Horn beside repairing and making odd sails have made partial outfits for the schrs. North Star, O.S. Storrs, Great Western, St. Louis and the scow Lorraine. Captain Lewis has given the schr. Mary, at Portsmouth, a new outfit, besides making many odd sails.

Messrs. Oldrieve & Horn have the contract to make the canvass for the new yacht to be built by Capt. Cuthbert. The same firm are also making a main sheet and two jibs for the yacht of Wm. Pike, Belleville. The main sheet will be 32 feet boom; 37 feet leach, 23 feet gaff and 22 feet mast. Other yachts will receive an outfit from this firm.

The Merchants' Line of propellers will have a larger tonnage afloat than ever before. For the regular Chicago Line the props California, Cuba and Armenia have all been rebuilt and lengthened to the full length of the Welland Canal locks. Their capacity has been increased from 28,000 to 30,000 bushels. These propellers will be run weekly to Montreal. The prop. Persia will be run as heretofore between Montreal and Toronto. The time occupied by the trip is 50 hours. The prop. Ocean will perform weekly service with Toronto and St. Catharines, leaving Kingston every Wednesday. The prop. City of Montreal, which has hitherto run between Toronto and Charlotte opens a new weekly line this season between Montreal and Hamilton. The props. Alma Munro, Dominion and Celtic will perform a service between Montreal, Hamilton and Chicago. The props. St. Magnus, Acadia, Glenfinlas (sic) and Thomas Myles will compose a weekly line between Montreal and Duluth and other ports on Lake Superior. The following props. will trade regularly between Lakes Ontario, Michigan and the port of Montreal: Prussia, Canada, Europe, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan and L. Shickluna. The fleet of the Merchants line trading with Montreal this summer will comprise 19 propellers.

Deseronto Items - The schr. John Wesley passed down on Saturday loaded. The schr. Jamieson is loading lumber for Oswego. The American will be ready for the Ogdensburg route this week.

The following steamers left here on their respective routes and usual time as follows: Quinte, Picton, and Trenton and Deseronto, for Picton in connection with B.Q. Railway carrying passengers and mails and the Pilgrim for Napanee.