The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19
TITLE INSURANCE,
An Enterprise OF Importance
to PrOperty-OwnerS Of
San Francisco.

The subject Of land titleE is doubtless
the most perpleXing with which the or
binary man of business has TO do. In
no other matter affecting important
interests is he compelled to rely so
implicitly upon the opinions and advice
of others. It is easy to secure what is
termed an abstract but even this
may be worthless in fact. There is only
one way to have perfect security in
purchasing or taking a mortgage upon
real property, and that is to have the
title insured. Title insurance is a bond
under seal, promising, on behalf of a
responsible corporation, to pay any
loss which may arise by reason of a
defective title. The California Title
Insurance and Trust Company, located
in the Mills building, is a corporation
which does this business, it possessing
complete abstracts of every piece of
land in the city and county of San
Francisco.
The responsibility of the California
Title Insurance and Trust Company is
well recognized in business circles. 1t
has paid up capital stock of $3.50, 900,
and a reserve fund Of 1000. The Of
ficers are as follows: Charles Page,
president; Oliver Eldridge, first vice
president; John R. Spring, second vice
president; Howard E. Wright, secreta-
ry and manager; the Anglo-Californi
Bank, treasurer. The directors are:
Charles Page, P. Il. Lilienthal, Oliver
Eldridge, H. L. Davis, J. L. n. Shepard,
John II. Spring, Warren Olney, Charles
r. Bishop and L. r. Ellert.
The Importance of title insurance to
every property owner in San Francisco
should not be overlooked. Owing to
the conflict between the American and
Mexican systems of acquiring title to
real property considerable confusion
and annoyance have resulted to many
holders of real estate. The making of
abstracts, although a recognized busi-
ness here, possesses under the circum-
stances little of value to the cautious
purchaser or mortgagor. Deeds have
been found to be forged; some have
been executed under a power of attor-
ney after the death of the principal,
which rendered them void; others have
been executed by insane persons. These
are points which the ordinary abstracts
do not inquire into, and there may
be many defects in a title which do not
and cannot appear in an abstract, but
which render a deed void, or voidable,
or worthless.
The California Title Insurance and
Trust Company insures all its work.
1t not only presents buyers of real es-
tate with an opinion based on the cor
rectness of an abstract but it guaran-
tees the accuracy of its searches and
assumes all risks. If a purchaser is
subsequently involved in litigation,
this contract of insurance requires the
corporation to defend the title. In
the event Of a mistake having been
made, the company reimburses the in
Sured.
The company now loans money upon
real estate at the lowest current rates
of interest. Loans are also negotiated
upon improved real property. Borrow
ers may always be sure of securing
loan upon their holdings with the least
possible delay. The company has un-
surpassed facilities for drawing and
recording mortgages and attending to
all the details Of this important branch
of banking.