Kingston Chronicle (Kingston, ON), Dec. 12, 1829

p.2

For the Kingston Chronicle.

Sir: - The accidents which frequently occur at the gangways of Steamboats, appear to me to call loudly for some legislative regulations on the subject, more especially since navigation by Steamboat is becoming so very general in all our inland waters. I think Parliament might, with great propriety take the matter into its consideration, and pass a law requiring all steam vessels to be provided with good stagings, to communicate between the vessels and the wharves, with substantial railings on each side to guard against those unhappy casualties which we read from time to time in the newspapers. Another provision, which a due regard to the safety of individuals requires, is that every steamboat lying at a wharf in any part of this province, should during the night, have a lantern or other sufficient light placed at the gangway, opposite or over the staging. Any infraction of the law on these heads by the master should be visited with a smart fine of four or five pounds, levied in a summary manner on complaint before a Justice of the Peace. As the legislature will shortly meet, I hope they will attend to this matter.

PUBLIUS