The diamond drill., 1921-01-29
ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER
IS MAKING AN ACTIVE CANVASS
viii Be Only Candidate Opposing
Mr.. Rogers For The Office At
The Convention Next Month

Captain A. l.. Burridge tossed his
hat into the state political ring last
Wednesday when he announced that
he will be a candidate for the office
Of state highway commissioner at the
republican state convention which
meets in Detroit on the 18th day OF
February.
Mr.. Burridge will oppose Frank Y
Rogers who is seeking a nomination
for a fourth term in the Office and
who is one OF the best known men In
the state.
Mr.. Burridge has been In lower
Michigan all week looking the ground
over TO see what his chances were
before he took the plunge. He found
the field SO promising that he was in
duced to hesitate no longer about an
nouncing his candidacy and from
now on until convention day he wl1l
be a very busy man lining up dele
gates for the office. Mr. Burridge
has excellent support in Detroit and
In Grand Rapids and will have his
old home. Berrien county, solid, not
to mention the upper peninsula.
Mr.. Burridge was born and reared
in Benton Harbor where his parents
are among the most prominent and
respected residents OF Berrien
county. He was educated in the pub
lie schools OF Benton Harbor. He
chose engineering as profession
when he left to enter Perdu Uniyer-
sity, from the engineering school
Of which he graduated four years lat
er.
He entered the engineering depart
ment OF the Chicago g. Northwestern
railroad and progressed rapidly in
the service until he was made assist
ant district engineer and was put in
charge OF great deal OF the work on
the Green Bay-Manitowoc line when
II was built
II was about this time that the
Northwestern entered upon its
building program in and about Iron
River and Mr.. Burridge was transfer
red to that work which he had charge
OF until he was induced TO take charge
OF the Zimmerman mine for the
Spring Valley Mining Goa
Shortly after he started with that
coAcern the county OF Iron commenc-
ed its extensive road building cam
paign and Mr.. Burridge was secured
70 direct H. For ten years he work
ed hard on the roads OF Iron county
perfecting the present system which
Is acknowledged 10 be one OF the very
best in the state. He has had extensive
experience with all kinds OF road con-
struction as his task necessitated the
cutting through the wilderness OF
the Cloverland Trail from Iron River
TO the Gogemc line. from Crystal
Crystal Falls TO the Dickinson line.
He also built Route So from Crystal
Falls 10 the Brule river. a total mile
age Of 45 miles OF new construction
When the United States entered
the war Mr.. Burridge felt II his duty
10 20. Although he was above the
draft age he .elt that fact no excuse
services TO the government and was
accepted. He was commissioned cap.
tain and given charge OF the 18Th
Battalion Of the Goth Engineers-ths
road builders. For over a year ht
built roads In France. Six months
OF his time after the war closed h'
was engaged In resurfacing tn,
roads destroyed by the heavy train,
OF the army transports.
Returning to this country he was
mustered out and came back to Crys
tai Falls where he joined with Her
man Holmes in the road contractins
business
His knowledge OF the road equip
ment possessed by the government
was such that the state employed hin
to go 10 Washington to get for II
share OF that equipment and il wa
mainly due to his splendid effort tha
this state has the fine lot OF equip
ment that Il has. Mr.. Burridge 2ur
chased most OF the road building
equipment for the federal govern
ment and so was In position 10 be o
valuable service TO Michigan II
selecting the states allowance
Mr.. Burridge is one OF the leadinI
members OF the American Legion
He IL post commander OF the Loui
Bowman Post Of this city, was in IN,
founding OF the national associatio,
and again at the state convention
which organized the Legion in Mich