The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-10-13
time allowed the state by the govern

| After the selection was made tbo
remainder of the lands in the town
! ship were open to the public. won't
East on business either before or at.
ter the filing of the list, and while !
was gone some of the employees Of II.
office went in the township and ca
Iected land for themselves, and 80
soon as it was open to the public ~
file on it. On my return learned of
the fact that Murray, De Lorrimsr
and w. F. Calvert Of the office had
taken land in this township. was
very much annoyed about the fact and
so expressed myself; and at that time
gave orders that no employe of the Of.
flee should In the future be a partv to
any selection Of government land in
the state on his behalf or that of anv.
one else.
Brother of e. w. Harrison.
II notice in your article that Mr.
Greenbank took land in this township
That is a mistake. He did not, but
after leaving the Office, l understand
claims in the State of. Oregon, but
both he and his wife took timber
never in the State of Washington. w
w. Harrison and F. E. Benedict were
never employees in my Office and never
had any connection Herewith during
my term. Mr. Harrison was a bro
Their of E. w. Harrison, who is now
running for assessor in San Juan coun-
ty, and / do not know what connec-
ton they had with regard to the land
10
The same may be said of Dr. l. NJ.
Harrison, of this city. l was inform
ed that Mr.. Benedict was a former
employee of the office under Mr..
Bridges, and had settled on tract of
land prior to the survey by the gov.
eminent and was claiming it as
homestead. This l do not know to be
true He never at any time had any
connection with my Office or, as far
as | know, was known to any of my
employees.
Stands on His Record.
After referring to REIMBURSEMENT
of 1000 acres selected by his prede
cessor, Commissioner Bridges, in the
transfer of which to another township
1887 acres are alleged to have been
lost to the state, Judge Calvert says:
81 am perfectly willing to stand by
the work that / did as commissioner
of public lands and the records made
with my knowledge during the four
years | was there. There was never
anything done in that office, so far as
l know, that I would not do again I'M
der like conditions. l had good
force of employees, and, so far as
know, absolutely honest and fair to the
whole people. / have tried to give the
public an honest administration and
| regret very much that in order 10
defeat two men who were employed
in the Office and who did honest ana
efficient work, so far as | know, tnal
l should be brought into fight that
l know nothing about.
t'The conditions in San Juan county
are to be regretted. They are all my
friends and l do not regard it as 1alr
to me that persons unfamiliar with tne
records of the land Office and facts
touching the management should plcA
out matters here and there ana pun
lish them as though crime had peel
committed. / had nothing to 90 WIN
the selection of land by three employees
of the Office, and as soon as Iearneo
what was done expressed my o,s
approval. l think now, and though
at that time that the employs
believed they had right, with INC
common public, to go in and TAKE VI
the land not wanted by the state uu'
the knowledge obtained in the o1''es
in advance of the public gave them al. q"
advantage that the head Of the OF 'ae
office could not consistently permt "
be taken. None of this 1,53' acre.
referred to in your morning lss suo
was ever taken by the employees Oh enr
Office In fact, understand from oua
rennrtS of examination of this IdnU