This item is a work log or diary of a post-World War I contractual operation engaged to remove and dispose of deteriorated ammunition from 1927 through 1928 at the Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot and the Raritan Arsenal. The log details the project from the initial contract, rules and regulations, weather summary, accidents, visitors, data, and other statistics of daily work performed by the Delaware Steel and Ordnance Company.

The Curtis Bay Ordnance Reserve Depot was a United States Army depot from 1918 to 1954 located in Curtis, Maryland. The Raritan Arsenal, located in Metuchen, Edison Township, New Jersey, was established in 1917 in preparation for the United States' entry into World War I. The United States Army used it from 1917 to 1963 for ammunition storage and renovation. Ordnance and waste materials were buried on site, as per routine disposal practices of the time.

In January 1927, Delaware Steel and Ordnance Company of New York won the contract from the War Department to remove 6 million pounds of explosives stored at Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot and Raritan Arsenal, including TNT, ammonia nitrate, special explosives, and smokeless powder. The powder to be removed consisted of large deteriorated stock, which the company was expected to recondition for other purposes.

Kenneth E. Cross (1898-1979), the compiler of the log, was hired to be an assistant to the superintendent at Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot. Cross was an ammunition inspector during World War I.

The project began on February 27, 1927, and finished on July 20, 1928, overseen by Major Traeger, commanding officer. Cross outlines precisely what was involved with the disposal of a variety of types of shells, mortars, primers, fuses, and explosives.

The documentation forms a narrative in two chapters that provides an overview of project events, explaining the refurbishing of the Curtis Bay site for the contracted work and the general workflow that followed. There are daily diary entries that summarize the work site's progress, obstacles, key stakeholders' activities, and costs. A key theme that surfaces throughout Cross' writing is the tension between the contractors and the government, which contributes to frequent disagreements and work stoppages. The images included in the log show the buildings, facilities, equipment, materials, ammunition, and workers.