New-York tribune., 1913-09-28
MOTORING PLAYGROUND
IN QUEENS BOROUGH
New and improved Roads in
That Section a Credit to the
Greater City.
CONDITIONS NEARLY IDEAL
In Two Years as Superintendent
OF Highways G.. Rowland
Leavitt Has Worked
Wonderful Change.

AS result OF nearly two years OF untir-
ing work. New York City has n ver,table
playground for motorists within her bor-
ders, with the probability that It's extent
Will be Increased in the near future. In
der the leadership Of G.. Howland Leavitt.
superintendent OF Highways of the Bor-
ough Of Queens. that section of the great
er city now boasts q network OF smooth,
, dustless roads. Offering the automobinst
ideal conditions for pleasure touring. with
diversified scenery. only a few miles run
from the heart Of Manhattan.
Motorists will recall the execrable con-
dition of the main roads In Queens Bor-
ough two years ago and prior to that
time. The heavily travelled highways
were the most thoroughly detested by
motor car users. due TO their cracked
and broken surfaces that 'chewed UP"
tires and made motoring over them ex-
pensive and generally uncomfortable. To-
day all that is changed. The car owner
finds roads in Queens that are the equal
OF. II not superior to, the best OF which
France can boast. not only on the main
lines leading TO the more distant parts
of Long Island. but criss-crossing the
entire borough.
a few days ago Mr.. Leavtt. with the
assistance OF Sam Brock, the queens
mathematical expert, took a party OF
newspaper men on n run over the bor-
ough roads, selecting roundabout course
that included parts Of Thompson avenue,
Hoffman Boulevard. Trotting Course
Lane. Metropolitan avenue. Hillside ave-
nue., Rosedale avenue. Rockaway Road,
Locust avenue, Central avenue. SPRING
field avenue, Queens avenue, Rocky Hill
Road. Bell avenue, Willett's Point Road
14th street Whitestone, College Point
Road and Jackson avenue. The distance
covered was about sixty miles. with most
OF which several OF the party were fanil-
lar under the old conditions.
Not on the entire route was stretch
Of other than nearly perfect surface en-
countered. Not only that but the labor
ers who were passed, at least one to every
two or three miles OF highway. were at
work keeping cutters clear Of dead leaves
or fixing spots where there appeared
tendency to ravel
Mr. Leavitt is an unusual type OF pubic
official The owner of one Of the most
beautiful estates facing on the Sound he
accepted his present Office only after
strong urging by Maurice z Connolly, the
Youthful president Of the borough. Mr.
I,eavitt IS the only Republican among the
holders OF public office in Queens
AS an owner OF high class trotting
horses and of recent years an automobile
enthusiast Che owns five cars), Mr.. Leav-
FIT has always been an agitator for good
roads. His own money paid for some OF
the first good road machinery ever useo
I'm Queens, and during his two years term
Of office ne has refused TO make use OF q
citv-owned car. preferring to drive one OF
his own.
Taking Office year ago last January
Mr.. Leavitt started in by studying the
makeup Of roads that had proved sue
cussful In various parts OF the country
his Investigation taking him to chicago
! AIfnneapolls. Washington and other cities.
In Queens he found mile after mile Oh
obsolete waterbound macadam, OF good
/ foundation. but for which no lasting
method Of resurfacing had been found.
tIe also made a study OF patent roads.
such as Warrenite. Sicilian, Annette. etc
He finally OeClueu pll NH"N -
the Notwithstanding, which infringes OH
none of the patent types. and Which ap-
nears 10 enjoy the confidence of contrac-
tors as TO its lasting qualities. All that
has been placed In Queens thus far mas
been under a five-year guarantee. IL IL
! bot-rolled. and so quickly applied that
from July 2 to October IS, 1872 one iiliie
a dav was completed, an unprecedented
/ record. ,,,,,,,
/ since Mr.. Ieavitt took Office the borough
has rebuilt ia miles of obsolete road, mas
r.surfaced 70 miles of waterbound mac
adam. has improved 200 miles OF dirt roaos
and built eleven miles OF new pSVeu
/ streets -, .ho
Not the least important feature OF the
changes wrought has been the introuuc-
t,on of a new form of contract requirihs
| q guarantee OF Ave years on ROADS, anu
holding contractors strictly to the nuihpeI
/ of davs work on any section. In tiie o'N
days 1t was u1psual to receive more ,',"t Ina''
,,,o or three bids for a section OF hlsh-
nav Under the Leavitt regime as many
90 eftv-four bids have been made TOT one
9 job.