UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
h BULLETIN No. 555 
Contribution from the Office of Public Roads and Rural 
Engineering, LOGAN WALLER PAGE, Director 
Washington, D. C. 
November 26, 1917 
STANDARD FORMS FOR SPECIFICATIONS, TESTS, RE- 
PORTS, AND METHODS OF SAMPLING FOR ROAD 
MATERIALS. 
As Recommended by the First Conference of State Highway Testing Engi- 
neers and Chemists, Washington, D. C, Feb. 12-17, 1917. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
Recommended standard forms of 
specifications for materials 5 
Recommended standard methods of 
testing materials 30 
Recommended standard forms for re- 
porting test results 
Recommended standard methods of 
sampling 
Index 
Page. 
38 
45 
53 
INTRODUCTION. 
With the joint participation of the Federal Government and 
States in the construction of highways under the Federal aid road 
act of July 11, 1916, it became necessary for the United States Office 
of Public Roads and Rural Engineering to familiarize itself thor- 
oughly with the practice of different States in highway work in 
order to facilitate perfect cooperation. The construction of highways 
may be considered under two main headings: (1) Materials used 
and (2) methods used. The report of this conference has to do with 
the first subject. 
As a result of a canvass of the various States made by circular 
letter in the latter part of 1916, it was ascertained that less than 
one-half of the States had proper facilities for testing materials used 
by them in highway work, and many had no facilities at all. At 
that time a large majority of the States indicated their willingness to 
cooperate with the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering 
and, if possible, to send representatives to attend a conference upon 
the subject of materials used in highway work. After the conference 
had been called it was found that many of the States which had 
signified their willingness to cooperate could not send representa- 
tives at the time appointed. However, a widespread interest in the 
88979°— Bull. 555—17—1 
