New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-22
REFORM ~ REAL ESTATE EEtOhDN

y
There arc reforms and reforms; but OF the
practical value and useful character OF the
change in the method Of making and index
ing the public records Of real estate transactions
that goes into operation on the first day OF next
wear there can only be one honest OPINION
An energetic effort was made by Mayor 6rant :
counsel and by other. Tammany Hall officials
before the last Legislature 10 postpone IN
definitely the time When the first records under
the "hlock system Of ndcXng should 60
upOn the books in the Register, Office; but,
happly. these efforts were unsuccessful The
new method of recording will he in full opera
ton when the Legislature meets next January.
and it will then be too late To do anything
more than modify the system by amendment.
We believe that il will only require lew
weeks Of practical experience 10 satisfy all OK
ccpt the few interested INSTRUCTORS, OF the
great advantages of the reform, and that II
will he impossible for the community ever
again to he burdcned with the present cum
bcrsome. complicated and uncertain method OF
preserving The records of titles 10 real estate.
This is called the block system because
the locality unit is the ordinary city block, IN
stead of the entire city and county, aS AT pres
ent. Each block has "A separate index-book III
which is indcxed every instrument put on
record that affects property upon that block.
The details of the system have been worked
ont with great nicely II is manifest that this
single change of the area of search simpliiieS
at once in marvellous degree the entire
method Of preserving and ascertaining the
titles to real estate in such great city as New
York The convcyancer at present is obliged
to search through the indexes that cover the
entire county whereas under the new sys-
tenn in perfect operation, he would confnc his
attention only to the indexes of transactions
upon a single block Every one who is inter
estcd i'm real estate transactions and knows thc
great delay, expense and difficulty that attend
the searching of titles in New-York to-day
will appreciate the significance of the change
Matters have, in fact, been going from bad to
worse in this respect, until it has become 4
matter of absolute necessity that some reform
should be effected if facility of transfer OF
title is to be preserved. The method of in
dexing that will be followed under the bloc,
system. coupled with the law passed by the
! present Legislature simplifying and shortening
the forms of deeds and mortgages, promises in
| few years to work complete revolution in
conveyancing in New-York and eventually tC
make the selling and mortgaging Of Manhattan
Island real estate rs easy, safe and expedition.
as the buying and selling of horses or dry
| goods.
To Mr.. Dwight II. Olmstead is the crcdi,
and distinction chiefly due for the accomplish
ment of this important reform. For many
wears he has contended publicly and privatel,
that indexing according to some limited area
either the lot or the block, was the only ra
tional and proper method. Considerable time
spent abroad in studying the methods of the
chief European countries in indexing real es
tate records satisfied him. contrary to hi.
former impressions, that the block was tn,
proper unit because of the fixed character OF
its boundaries. There followed a protractet
and animated controversy on the subject among
real estate dealers and lawyers but the fna