The Charter and Ordinances of the City of Providence, Together with the Acts of the General Assembly Relating to the City Page 89-96, Image 89-96 (1854) Available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

An Act Regulating the Storage, Safe Keeping and Transportation of Gunpowder in the Town of Providence, (1821) § 2. And be it further enacted, That is shall not be lawful for any person or persons to sell any gunpowder which may at the time be within the town of Providence in any quantity, by wholesale or retail, without first having obtained from the town council of said town a license to sell gunpowder; and every such license shall be written or printed, and signed by the president of said council or their clerk, on a paper upon which shall be written or printed a copy of this act; and every such license shall be in force for one year from the date thereof, unless annulled by said council, and no longer; but such license may, prior to the expiration of that time, be renewed, by endorsement thereon, for a further term of one year, and so from year to year: provided, always, that the said town council may annul any such license, if in their opinion the person or persons licensed have forfeited the right of using the same by any violation of the law relative thereto; and every person who shall receive a license as aforesaid shall pay therefor the sum of five dollars, and on having the same renewed shall pay therefor the sum of one dollar, which shall be paid to the clerk of said council, for their use, for the purpose of defraying the expense of carrying this act into execution. § 3. And be it further enacted, That any person or persons who shall keep, have, possess or transport any gunpowder within the town of Providence, contrary to the provisions of this act, or who shall sell any gunpowder therein, without having a license therefor, then in force, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not less than twenty dollars, and not exceeding five hundred dollars, for each and every offence; and if any gunpowder kept contrary to the provisions of this act shall explode in any shop, store, dwelling-house, ware-house or other building, or in any place in said town, the occupant, tenant or owner of which has not a license in force to keep and sell gunpowder therein, or which gunpowder shall have been kept in a manner contrary to the terms and conditions of such license, such occupant tenant or owner shall forfeit and pay a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars. . . § 6. And be it further enacted, That the said firewards, or any of them, may enter the store or place of any person or persons licensed to sell gunpowder, to examine and ascertain whether the laws relating thereto are strictly observed; and also whenever there may be an alarm or fire; and in such last case may cause the powder there deposited to be removed to a place of safety, or to be destroyed by wetting or otherwise, as the exigency of the case may require; and it shall be lawful for any one or more of the firewards aforesaid to enter any dwelling house, store, building or other place in said town to search for gunpowder which they may have reason to suspect to be concealed or unlawfully kept therein; first having obtained from some justice of the peace of said town a search warrant therefor; which warrant any one of the justices of said town is hereby respectively authorized to issue, upon the complaint of such fireward or firewards, supported by his or their oath or affirmation. . . And be it further enacted, That all persons who wish have a license to keep and sell gunpowder within the town shall make application to the town council in writing, stating the place of business and whether they wish to sell by wholesale or retail, or both; and to each person or firm who may be approbated, a certificate of license shall be granted, on payment of the fee established by law. § 14. And be it further enacted, That every person or firm who may be licensed to sell gunpowder by retail, shall be allowed to keep in the place or building designated in the license, twenty-five pounds of gunpowder, and no more, at one time, which shall always be kept in tin or copper canisters, capable of containing no more than twelve and a half pounds each with a small aperture at the top, and a tin or copper cover thereto. § 15. And be it further enacted, That every person or firm who may be licensed to sell gunpowder by wholesale, shall provide and keep a tine or copper chest, with two handles and a tight cover, furnished with a hinge, and secured with a padlock, all of tin or copper chest, with two handles and a tight cover furnished with a hinge and secured padlock, all of tin or copper; such chest shall always be kept on the lower floor, on the right side of and close to the principal door or entrance from the street into the building so licensed, except when otherwise designated by the council and shall always be kept locked, except when powder is put in or taken out; and such person or firm, so licensed shall be allowed to deposit and keep, in such tin or copper chest, a quantity of gunpowder not exceeding four casks of twenty-five pounds each; the heads of each cask not to be opened, and each cask to be kept in a strong leather bag, closely tied and marked as aforesaid. § 16. And be it further enacted, that every person or firm licensed to keep and sell gunpowder as aforesaid, by wholesale or retail, shall have and keep a signboard placed over the door or building in which such powder is kept, on which shall be painted in Roman capitals the words “Licensed to sell Gunpowder”