Bent County register., 1888-09-29

our town has over a section OF land
laid ou; into near 4Io4 lots a5xl4o
feet, now say one-fonrth of the peo-
Pile when they sell or mortgage have
to furnish an abstract, WHICH is n
small per cent thai would be an alb
stract on ll76 lots. Baldwin, Jay x
Co. have never made an abstract so
we understand that cost less than
$50, and from that 20 SIS. With =
fair and low estimate what is the
resalt. If there are 47oi lots and
we estimate the price of an abstract
at se5, = rice less than they viii fur
nish one. 1t will cost the people of
Lamar alone $4,000, Granada, Las
Animas, la Junta and Rocky Ford
would be at the equal sueh expense
on the sale of one-fonrth their prop
erty. Cut the amount down $4,000
ami the five towns named will pay
$4,000 each which will amount to
100000, other towns in the county
not considered, Indian claims large
tracts of land, and lands proven up
years ago that no possible title can
be obtained. This is matter the peo.
pie should consider and express
their views on aud decide whether
or not the county commissioners
should not take immediate steps to
get possession of the only records
extant prior TO the fire. we do not
feel the need of these abstracts now
rs much as we will as soon is there
is an active real estate market, yet at
the present time other counties tell
strangers that VIC cannot give clear
and legal abstract to our lands, there
by injuring our property. II the
books of Baldwin, Jay & Co. were
purchased now they could be legal
lied this winter, if not purchased
now, the same state Of affairs will
continue for two years more and then
cost more than they would now. Las
Animas has near 5000 lots, the town
site was government enc proven
up wears ago and set aside by the
courts, their titles are perfected and
good, but there is DO way to show it
except by this set Of abstract books,
at the same time, rate and the same
number obtaining abstracts as esii
mated for Lamar their bill would be
s39,250, with all the other towns.
farms and ranches in the COUNTY to
yet be figured on. There is another
matter to be considered, this abstrac;
arm have an absolute monopoly, how
do we know when they will increase
their rates, 4 matter for the comnis-
sioners To think over when they con
slider the petitions sent them by tn.
people 10 in some way perfect the
records. To show that we are at the
mercy of this firm we say that they
will never legalize their records for
the reason that they would then have
to charge legal rate for abstracts,
these abstracts are personal property
and cannot in their charges be reach
ed by law, they can rob the people
and the people cannot help them
selves, but on the other hand suppose
the county should buy them, then
they would be controlled by legal |
rates Baldwin, Jay &c Co. charge
for an abstract say Of seven transfers,
SO for the first and SO. for each ad. |
ditional transfer making S2s. now
the same abstract if made by the
county clerk according to the law,
would be $40, the law provides that
the clerk shall only charge fifty cents
a trausfe; for the first FIVE transfers
and thirty cents for each additional
transfer, Sec. l+i3 Page 4s4 Div.
General Statutes 1883. We do not
think of this Until we want an alb
stract, and then we tlnd that it takes
lots of good money to get one, wheth-
er the abstract books are complete or
not, what difference does it make if
1t is claimed that the books are worth
nothing to the county if when a man
wants to sell his property or secure
a loan he has to obtain an abstract
that cost bim anywhere from $50. TO
a 800, it amounts to just the same
as if the books were worth a great
deal as no doubt II / Thnrnas who