William Burnham Woods

“ A boat propelled by steam, which habitually carries four persons and sometimes more, and is capable of carrying twenty-five, ought to be subject to inspection. The fact that, if her boiler should explode, or her hull spring a leak, probably only four lives would be imperlied, does not occur to us as ground why she should be exempted from the provisions of the law requiring inspection of vessels propelled by steam. ”

“ Of course, she bears no resemblance to a canal-boat, but she only differs from a ferry-boat, as it is generally understood, in not conveying passengers for hire; and she differs from a yacht in not being sea-going, if, in fact, she is not sea-going, and in not being designed and used for pleasure merely. ”

“ The reason of the law applies to the Repauno. The purpose of title 52 is primarily the protection of the passengers and crew and property on vessels propelled by steam. The law was passed also to protect the lives and property of persons on other boats, and at the wharves. The Repauno was of sufficient size to cause peril to life and property by an explosion of her boiler. ”