Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-01-05
THE STATE LAND OFFICE.

No factor in the government of the State
of Washington is so important as its state
land department The revenue to the state
derived through the office of the state land
commissioner is more than sufficient alone
to conduct the affairs of Washington. and
that such is the case is due in great meas
ure to the superior executive ability of the
state land commissioner Robert Bridges.
When it is considered that during the past
year the receipts of the land commission
cr's office reached the magnificent figure of
half million dollars, one is compelled to
admire the man who has made this posi-
BILE. II is true that the laws of the state
provide the means through which this vast
usm is raised annually. but 1t may here ne
said truthfully that under practically the
same laws none of Mr.. Bridges predc-
cessors have reached results that can in
any manner be compared with the showing
made for the three years Mr.. Bridges has
been in charge of the land department.
Until he took charge of the Office the re-
ccipts had never reached anywhere near
half their present proportions. and what
is more To his credit. and the benefit OF the
state. is the fact that they are constantly
increasing.
Robert Bridges is essentially a self made
man. Compelled from childhood to labor
for his daily bread. he was denied the
educational privileges of other children.
and his knowledge of affairs has been
gained in that hard and practical way
which has given the world some of its most
famous men. The result has bee that in
Mr. Bridges there has developed a man of
keen insight of sturdy and honest charac-
ter. in whom the state has a servant that
il will never regret having employed. His
clear head and logical mind. and his rec
ognized desire to subServe the states in
terests to the highest degree. is the secret
of the success he has obtained in the pub
lie position he now occupies. His thor
ough knowledge of all that has to do with
the department over which he presides is
astonishing and it has grown to be tech
meal to the greatest degree That he has
made such Il success of the administration
of the states land department is not
therefore. strange. and 1t is but what his
friends knew he was capable of.
Mr.. Bridges. with thorough tact has sur
rounded himself with a clerical force thor
oughly in consonance with his character
Lee Melluer. chief clerk of the Office. IS
man eminently qualifefd for that re-
sponsible position. and his capabilities for
work is a byword among those who know
him. The smallest problem is handled by
Mr.. MuPlluer with the same devotion to
detail rs the greatest. and he enjoys the
esteem not only of his superior but the
entire force. Miss Mary Hayes the accom-
plished private secretary to the land COM
missioner. is young lady whom it is
real pleasure to meet either socially or IN
Il business way. and the rapidity and ac-
curacy of her work is a matter OF prid,
in the office Among the clerks employed
e. W. Bovine. Alex. Mackinnon. Thomas
w. Corohctt and James Doherty are all
competent and courteous clerks and but
add to the popular reputation of the land
department.
The office of the state land commits
sioner, over which Mr. Bridges has control
also is in charge of Thomas J. Miller, state
senator from Thurston County, who is the
secretary of the board. Mr.. Miller has been
secretary only since last spring. hut it was
not long after his appointment until the
duties come natural to man of such
ability. In the engineering department
John Cryderman is the chief. aided by l.. p.
T.
of the material required in division
of the land department where clever and
careful heads are required
The State of Washington has reason to
be proud of the present state land com
missioner. the force he employs and the
record the department has made and IS
To protect and subserve the states in
tcrcsts. to increase its revenues and to
stand between grasping individuals ana
he peoples heritage as Robert Bridges i
loing is a record that Will live long after
he has laid down the cares of the office
h" has SO ably filled.
SOME DISTRICT AND COUNTY OF !
FICERS.
The position of superior judge is ably
tilled by o. V. Linn. He is young man. /
but efficient training in his profession has
resulted in very thorough romprchcn-