Low cost road construction increased significantly with the continued promotion and distribution of specification booklets written by Prevost Hubbard with the Asphalt Institute. State highway engineers benefited from this information to learn the proper technical methods for their road construction.
Pacific Coast Companies Join the Institute
At the Board of Directors meeting, J.E. Pennybacker announced that five Pacific Coast companies had joined the institute, which called for a new Pacific Coast office to open in San Francisco in early 1932.
Airfield Construction Training
With the establishment of the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), the Asphalt Institute was asked to conduct training on asphalt paving for the construction of airfields.
State Engineer Open Forum
The Asphalt Institute provided an open forum where state highway engineers could discuss techniques and find information about the proper uses of asphalt. Between 1930 and 1937, the institute published 155 booklets and pamphlets on asphalt.
Rebranding
The Asphalt Association closed its doors on December 31, 1929 and dissolved all membership except the asphalt producers. It re-opened the next day as the Asphalt Institute to carry the mission of providing sound technical, engineering, educational and scientific information to state and local engineers building the roads.
A New Partnership is Formed
The Asphalt Association partnered with the American Farm Bureau Federation and contributed $100,000 for a campaign to inform the American people about benefits of upgrading the nation’s secondary road system. Thousands of miles of secondary all-weather roads were constructed through this partnership.
Grade Simplification Approved
The Asphalt Association engineers proposed the extensive number of asphalt grades (102) be simplified down to 9 grades. This proposal was approved by the Board.
The first Asphalt Handbook
Wallace Craig, an Asphalt Association District Engineer in the Chicago office, prepared a handbook for his personal use on the proper use of asphalt which later was used as a model for the first Asphalt Handbook. Many important industry groups were formed during this time due to the expansive need for road improvements including: the … Continue reading The first Asphalt Handbook
Membership Levels Established
Three classes of membership were created: Sustaining Members: Those who produced asphalt Contributing Members: Those who manufactured equipment or were processors of proprietary mixes Contractors
New Executives and Office
J.R. Draney was elected President of the Asphalt Association W.W. McFarland was elected Vice President of the Asphalt Association Office space was secured at 14 Maiden Lane in NYC J.E. Pennybacker accepted the position of Secretary and managing director until 1941 Prevost Hubbard was named Chief Chemical Engineer from 1919 to 1947
