How the United States started regulating explosives for safety and security.
This edition traces why Congress and federal agencies moved to control production, sale, and use during a time of rapid change and national threat.
The text covers the origins of the 1917 act, the roles of the War Department and the Bureau of Mines, and the effort to craft a uniform, enforceable framework. It also discusses the push for federal supervision as a response to accidents, bomb outrages, and the spread of explosives knowledge during wartime.
- How the idea for nationwide regulation emerged from concerns about safety and enemy use of explosives.
- Key figures and agencies involved in shaping and enforcing legislation.
- The practical questions considered, such as record-keeping, licensing, and enforcement during wartime.
- Historical context that connects public safety, industry practice, and government power.
Ideal for readers interested in early 20th‑century regulatory history, wartime policy, and the development of federal oversight of dangerous materials.