Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-25


registration, but an abstract brought
down 20 date. and an examination ana
certificate by an attorney, besides the
time consumed. which often prevents
the contamination OF the trade. After
| an this expense, diligence and delay, IL
is quite uncertain. as the litigation In
our courts show. whether the pur-
chaser gets a good title. and the prac-
ticc has now become common, e.
peclaliy IN the larger cities, to have
the title guaranteed by company
orgnnized for that purpose, which In
wolves additional expense. am In
favor OF system in vogue in Aus
traila and In a modified form In sew
eral Of the United States, known from
its author as the Torrens system, by
which the true title. ascertalned after
careful investigation. is registered,
and certificate thereof given to the
owner Thereafter a transfer can only
be nude on the books OF the recorder
and by a surrender OF the certificate
and the issue Of u new one to the pur-
chaser in analogy to the transfer of
registered bonds, shares in corpora
lions and vessels on the high seas and
naviglble rivers. Property OF this
kind OF the value Of millions OF dollars
Is daily transferred by this method
without delay, expense or danger Of
loss and there IL no reason why the
same method cannot be applied to
land transfers with the same result.
You will not expect. nor would time
permit me, 20 enlarge upon the details
OF this system at this time, but speak
ing not from my own reflection alone.
but from the actual experience OF those
communities In which the system has
been tried / do not doubt that 1t would
prove a complete success IN Texas.
hope TO see Il law passed authorizing
its application. as voluntary system.
TO land transfers in counties desiring
IT, and ] believe that the -esults Of
the experiments will lead to Its gem
eral adoption IN the state, thereby saw
ing to our people millions OF dollars
wasted under tho present system, in
addition TO the annoyance incident
Public school Lands.
The disposition OF our public school
lands deserves careful consideration.
The remnant OF these lands IS situated
In sparsey settled, dry and unde-
veloped portions OF the state. Notwith-
standing, they are capable of a high
state OF development and productive
ness. and may be converted Into happy
homes OF thrifty population. sun.
considering their situation and the
money and labor required for their
development, 1t will be many years
before they are sold at the present
prices. In the meanwhile they yield
no revenue to the school fund, except
such portions Of them as have been
leased or may be leased 10 cattlemen
for a few cents per acre. II sold to the
people Huu VohNer'eu INTO homes, II
would result IN an increase OF wealth.
ana population Wlch would soon re-
Il sum in excess OF their present value.
The state should cease TO be a land
owner at the earliest moment possible.
This has been the policy OF the general
government. ana we see me benehcial
results OF TINS policy In the extension
of civilization across the Western
plains 10 the shores of the Pacific and
In the teeming millions who now ma
happy homes In what was once
waste and wilderness. / am. therefore.
In favor Of following this example
not indeed, to the extent Of donating
these lands, which would be incom-
patiblc with the trusts upon which
they are held but by such reduction
and modification in terms of sale as
will speedily result in their purchase
and settlement by the people.
The happiness and prosperity OF the
people depend very largely upon the
security of their land titles Whatever
clouds or lmnairs The lille IN land has
an Instant eject upon the prosperity
OF tho people. The LEGISLATURE should.
therefore, quiet the title to all lands
hara od' ,,,,.,i,a.,ars ,,ro,, i,,si and
iUna,'ai tar,,s ,,.itt,,,t ,,tai5in,r nr snc,I-
Gct,'e a,,t, ri,,,,, a., rey,n,,,ntiSr a. nav
ho,a 80 St,st c,r,,,,.,t In,,s az. t,,di,,id.
,,"is ha15ir,,, ,1ra,,,., sca,,d or in ma
g 1t,1 "''u'''e W. i'"NN "a
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SeetiVn ne i3ool '''t NaHi'U, UG nus w.
el,ipioy yu, Mouiu u.itiNe ~
w a. ',.s anu
n i M ~ t"v y, ,',t!,, VI toou
IN v'utntnS lSr ,,,e CoIHiStS thv N,
1ics gs' my ~ II az psstne ios le
g'tet s"' S""'''"O'e INSTITUTIONS VI tue
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Sou'" VI ou' lu'se o''les'
Reform schools.