Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-11
VIRGINIA land BOOKS
Contsining Matters Referring to the
Counties Now Within
WEST VIRGINIA BOUNDARIES

.Speclql telegram 20 the sunday Register.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, January o.
Despite the severe illness by which
Governor Fleming has been confined to
his room for several weeks, he has man
aged TO give considerable attention 10
All the important affairs Of the Execu-
tive Department, and is now engaged in
3 commendable effort TO procure from
the Commonwealth OF Virginia certain
original books and papers pertaining to
titles 10 lands within this State, and the
privilege Of obtaining copies Of many
others, with view to saving to the
people Of the State some Of the difficult
ties and expenses heretofore involved in
the examinations OF land titles.
In the present state OF affairs, scarce
" any title can be traced back TO the
Commonwealth or its condition be as
ccrtained without sending an attorney
90 Richmond 70 make examinations OF
records and documents deposited there.
I'm this State, many OF the cheaper aud
wilder lands are rapidly increasing in
value and frequently changing hands,
and in many cases there are serious con-
fictS of titles. Large surveys are often
IIaaNlNN NAANA NANA RAA6ukof QuGQLLN
covered by junior grants.
To determine the questions OF for
FIXTURE and other important questions
about these titles, recourse must be had
10 some or all of the books and papers
which the Governor desires TO obtain
from the Mother State. II is certainly
very important 10 procure from 'Vir-
giuja and have within our own State
where easy access to them may be had
by our own people, all the books and
papers necessary in the investigation Of
titles and real estate litigation.
Within year after the formation Of
the State Of Kentucky out Of part of
the Territory OF Virginia, the Virginia
Assembly November 18th, 1898,
passed an Act, under which were
turned over TO the State OF Kentucky
an books and papers pertaining to the
titles to lands within that State, and
similar to the one which Governor
Fleming requests in behalf Of West
Virginia.
The following is a communication
from Governor Fleming, forwarded
yesterday TO the Governor Of Virginia.
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, J
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
CHARLESTON, January 9, 1892.
His ETccUcncy Philip W. Mckinney,
Governor Of VtrgiRiG:
SIR:-Referring to our conference in
November last, it was understood that l
would address TO Your Excelency q
communication indicating such original
books and papers, now in possession Of
the Commonwealth OF Virginia and per-
tanning 70 lands within the State Of
West Virginia, as IL is desired 10 be de-
livered TO the authorities Of this State;
and Of what books and papers this
state desires the privilege OF obtaining
copies.
now hand to Your Excellency list
Of such books and papers, viz:
1. All the original land books OF all
the counties now in West Virginia,
which were made since such counties
were formed.
?. The privilege Of copying the land
books OF the counties from which the
West Virginia counties were taken,
where part OF the original county still
remains in Virginia.
3. The original surveys returned TO
the Virginia Land Office from all the
counties now in West Virginia, or if they
cannot be had, the privilege Of copyisg
such surveys.
4. The privilege Of coping the grants
of lands now in West Virginia, and also
of coping the surveys on which such
grants issued, II the original surveys
cannot be had.
3. The returns Of Sheritfs' OF delin-
ouent lands, or the privilege OF copying
the same, and also the sales By SheriuS
of DELINQUENT lands, or the privilege OF
copying the same.
IL seems to me that have requested
the delivery 70 this State OF only such
OF the books aud papers as are wholly
useless TO the Commonwealth or Viz
ginia; but which are OF great value 70
the landowners OF this State, and with
out which we have not within our own
State the means, in many instances, OF
showing the condition OF land titles.
MANY OF our lands are rapidly increaS-
ing i'm value, thus making 10 very impor-
tant 10 have, within easy reach, all the
records relating TO them.
I trust 10 will be the pleasure OF Your
EXceuency 20 recommend 10 the LeglS-
Iature now in session the passage OF an
Act 10 authorize the delivery to SOME
agent of this State whom shall appoint
TO receive the same, OF such books and
papers as have indicated; and further,
10 accord TO this State the privilege oil
copying such books and papers as this
state desires, and which cannot proper
~ by'surrendered by the Commonwealth
of Virginia. Very respectfully,
A. h. FLEMING.
T,.,rr-,,, IT,, il peculiarlv adapted