The commissioner of public lands is authorized from time to time to appoint one or more employees of the state land office as clerks to sign the commissioner’s name, under his direction and for him, to any and all patents to state lands, and any and all leases, assignments, division orders, letters, contracts, certification of copies and any other documents or instruments respecting state lands as the commissioner of public lands may enumerate in the appointing orders, and any such instruments or documents so signed shall have the same legal effect as those signed by the commissioner of public lands in person.