Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-06
Land Transfer Reform,

To the Editor of TIE EvENI>G STAR:
The system of land transfer now in vogue in
the District, as in most of the states. is old and
antiquated, no material change having been
made during the last three centuries except N
the matter of the registration OF deeds. Why
should We not adopt the system now so sue
cessful in Canada, New Zealand and Australia
of registry and guarantee of title by the state.
and thus get rld of this expensive plan alto
gether! Tn system o: land transfer in New
Zealand Is exceedingly simple and ineNpen-
slve. sc that any one wishing to buy land can
buy as little or as much as he wants. with a
perfect title guaranteed by the government.
at an outlay Of a few shililngs for deed and
registration. About one-eleventh of the pop
ulation are free-holders, and in some of the
best settled districts the proportion is still
greater. No country in the world can show
such a healthful growth as this. The system
was Introduced into Australia by one of
the Judges Torrens and rapidly gained
favor and attracted attention outside,
being known as the ''Torrens system"
When 1t is adopted by a state having another
system of conveyance, as most have. 1t is gem
orally done by having the applicant fill out a
form of blank in order to bring the property.
which Is in the ordinary registry Office CON
slstlng OF record, original grant, subdivision
deed, mortgages, releases, in fact the claim of
titleI These, with the application onume-
rating them, are taken by the owner or agent
" ne ldllu llllG ounce. where u nlOutfdNt lee Is
asked. This work of examination goes on. and
In due course, If the title is sound originally
and the chain complete. a certificate of title.
printed and Endorsed on lasting paper the size
OF foolscap sheet, Is given you. and You have
nothing more to do with the arm full OF deeds.
DC, you have taken with your application, and
the province guarantees its certificate of title.
If you wish to sell it is the work of an hour
and done on another form. Ii you sell all
your certificate Is Cancelled and a new one i'm
mediately issued to the purchaser. Ii you sell.
part, that part of your certificate is Cancelled
and returned to you and a new certificate
issued to the purchaser for that part. If you
sell and take a mortgage for part. that lien is
simply put on the new certificate and a stamped
copy given to you. 1t Is certainly an admi-
rable system, and answers equally well for city
or town. and where this system prevails all
titles except these are looked upon as weak and
the mortgage companies will loan on no other.
The substitution of lndefeasible titles guar
anteed by the state for individual titles involv-
ing conveyances, costly and loaded with YER
biage. is a reform most radical and one which
ought to itself to the public. This
system would remove all difficulties In dealing
with lands and the number of land transfers
would be quadrupled, for land can be bought.
sold or used as security for advances as readily.
promptly and cheaply as any other description
OF property. Thus the acquisition of land by
men OF small means would be enormously
facilitated. Today none but the wealthy can
AFFORD, IN our large cities at least. to deal in
real property at all. whereas by this system the
condition of a vast number of families would
be elevated and made more substantial. multi
tudes would be induced TO follow rural pur-
suits instead of congregating in the cities. and
the general wealth of the country would not
only be increased, but more equally dis
tributed among ali classes of the population.
1t would also improve the position Of existing
land owners and would increase the value of
real estate by making it more negotiable. ex-
empting titles from all risks OF dispute and
multiplying the number of opportunities of
those wishing to become land owners. L. DIG.