St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-01-19
Boundaries and Titles.

| When land is cheap. rs it generally
is in portions of the West that are but
sparselv settled, the owners of tracts
are careless about the establishment of
boundary lines. If they fence in a
farm they are not particular to set the
fences on the exact lines. The length
of the boards or other materials en-
ployed for making the fence will often
determine the position of one boundary.
The fence on the highway is hardly
ever in the exact position required for
the width of the road. A considerable
portion of the space claimed for high
way purposes is generally included in
the adjoining field. The first fences
erected in newly-setiled place gener-
ally determine the position of those put
up subsequently,. The latter are placed
on about the same lines as the former.
Ii is often the case that no surveyor is
employed to run lines for the purpose
of locating fences till the ancient land
marks are all destroyed, and their po-
sition known only by tradition. 1t is
to be regretted that the corners of Sec
tions are not marked by substantial
monuments of stone or metal. The
little mound of earth erected by the
Government surveyors at section cor
ners soon becomes obliterated by the
tread of animals and other causes. 1t
then becomes necessary to measure
from some spot where a monument ex-
lists in order to establish boundary
line Sometimes disputes arise in rela-
ton to the position of the corners of
sections. These might be prevented by
| of itnh
The cost of setting trees on the corners
of sections would be slight, and they
would serve very useful purpose as
landmarks. They are not easy to dis
place, and will endure for generations.
They are better than short monuments,
as they can be seen long distances.
When land becomes valuable every
owner desires to have all that belongs
to him. If AN owner thinks he has not
his full share he employs 4 competent
surveyor to run the lines. 1t is often
found that fences are long distance
from the proper place. and the cost and
trouble of moving them are great. In
some instances, as in recent case in
the eastern part of this State, it isfound
that wells dug and buildings erected by
one set of farmers are on land owned
by others. Of course great trouble
and expense attend a discovery of this
kind. Boundaries should be accurately
determined when a place is to be inn
proved. 1t is easy to put the fences in
the right position in the first instance.
The longer the matter is delayed the
greater the difficulty will become. II
there is anv question about the position
of boundary fences the farmers who are
interested should unite in having an ac-
curate survey made. The expense to
each individual will in that way be
largely reduced. The present is an ex.
cellent time for making surveys. The
trees and bushes are deprived of foliage,
and the grass is killed by the frost. In
most places it is very short. The
weather is cool and farmers have com.
parativelv little to do. If a survey
shows that it is necessary to remove
fences the work can be done in whole
or part before the frost interferes with
digging the ground. Having made the
survey, pains should be taken to plant
trees on the section corners, and, If de
sirable on account of smaller divisions,
at the corners of the quarter sections
Farmers will generally find it to theil
advantage to have their permanen
fields and pastures run out. 1t is Otter
very desirable to know the exact con
tents of an inclosure. 1t is quite 8
satisfaction to know definitely how
much land is devoted to any kind o
crop. knowing the exact amount o
land in field saves much bad guessing
Having ascertained the exact boun
,, daries of farm the owner would dt
well to have the title examined and i
necessary perfected. There is as mucl
uncertainty about the title as about th,
boundaries of many farms. Many bu.
farms without first obtaining an abstrac
of the title and without having an alb
; stract examined by person competen
: to pass on its merits. They take tn
) sellers word that the title is good. Hi
I word NAV be good on most matters
5 but the title to the land he conveys ma
be very poor. and this without hi
. knowledge. Deeds are often inac
1 curately drawn and acknowledged b.
incompetent persons and lead to grea
: trouble at some period. Mortgages ar
often given and satisfied, but no eyi
dence of their having been satisfied ap
4 pears ou tic CouHtN lcSoid. Aho VIII
has already come in cities when
purchaser requires an abstract of It'll
!, to any property he buys. This tim
will soon come in the country. Peopl
will not pay large sums of money fo
farming land unless they have cor
elusive evidence that the title is rigf
I in every respect Mistakes in the con
veyance of property, releases of NOR
cages that have been satisfied. and mi:
5 takes of any kind can be corrected G
adjusted during the life of the person
+ who were parties to them with littl
trouble or expense. The longer the
are delayed, however, the greater th
difficulty becomes. Every owner {
S farming land should be able Ito rea
+ his title clear" He should have h
i chain of title drawn out by one con
q petent to do it. and examined by or
I whose Judgment is good in such ma
ters. He should also preserve his deco
and tax receipts. Our system of Ian
surveying is very simple in the Wes
/ as is our system of conveying propert.
It Still many landowners are very nee
e ligent about the matter of boundarit
a and Chicago Times.