New-York tribune., 1911-12-29
IG. H. LEAVITT IS MADE
HEAD OF QUEENS ROADS
FinanCier Appointed Highway
Superintendent by Borough
President Connolly.
SAYS HE HAS A FREE HAND
Declares He Knows Nothing OF
Politics and Will Run Depart
ment on Business Basis
Asks Taxpayers Support.

| G. Howland Leavitt, chairman OF the
good roads committee of the Automobile
! Club Of America, a member of the com
mi tee recently appointed by Mayor
| Gaynor to inspect the pavements OF the
! city Of New York, was last evening ap-
pointed Superintendent of Highways In
/ Queens by Borough President Maurice
f. Connolly. Mr.. Leavitt's home is in
| Flushing.
/ Owing to the high standing of Mr..
Leavitt as a financier, successful busl-
ness man and a public spirited citizen
! this appointment comes as an awaken
| ing 10 Queens, where the Highway De-
partment has long been honeycombed by
graft and incompetency. 1t was in this
| department that the famous tin horse
and cart brigades" were planted in or
der to secure votes for primaries and
regular elections.
Following the removal of President
Lawrence Gresser on charges of incom-
potency, when President Connolly was
elected to fill the vacancy, it was found
that the highway funds had been eX-
hausted Mr. Leavitt, at a personal ex-
pense of several thousand dollars, put
steam rollers TO work on certain high
ways badly in need of repairs, and
superintended the work himself. Owing
to Ill health Emanuel Brandon resigned
as Superintendent of Highways soon
after the election of President Connolly,
and since that time Mr.. Connolly and his
advisers have been looking about for a
man of ability and high standing to take
the vacant post. 1t was finally decided
to offer the post to Mr.. Leavitt. The
salary is $4,000 a year, about half of the
amount Mr.. Leavitt spent out of his own
pocket for recent road improvements.
When Mr.. Leavitt was seen at his
home last evening he said:
Il have the assurance Of President
Connolly that | shall be left free to run
this department on a sound business
basis know nothing about politics,
but | do know business. / am satisfied
that a system can be laid out and main
tained whereby every individual en-
poyel on the highways can be held re-
sponsible for his own particular work.
Il can frankly say that l am taking this
position at "A great personal sacrifce. III
order 10 make my undertaking a sue
cess must have the support of the tax
payers and residents of the community.
Before taking this step l consulted a
great many of my friends who asked me
if | knew what | was undertaking. l
know well what l am undertaking. but
in order to achieve success l must have
the support of my friends.
1T is well known that | am large
property holder in this borough, and l
have always had it's interests at heart.
have found fault with the highways
which have been allowed to deteriorate
until they are in a deplorable condition.
With a liberal allowance Of money and
with vigilant and prudent management
| believe the roads Of Queens can he put
in good condition"
Mr.. Leavitt is chairman Of the high
way committee of the Queens Borough
Chamber Of Commerce. He has beau
tiful country home, Shore Acres, at Bay
side where he maintains at his own eX-
pense a model road. He is prominent in
railroad circles in Wall Street, and sew
eral years ago served a number of terms
as president of the old Queens County
Agricultural Society. After the consol-
idation he wa made president Of the
Board Of Education of Queens, and on
one occasion advanced $4,000 to pay
the school teachers their salaries, which
now charter.