Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-09

surveyor LOCKERS RepOrt.
This matter was referred by the Commits
sioners to the surveyor of the District, Mr..
Henry B. LOCKER, who has reported to
them that Mr.. Robinson stated the facts
correctly as they existed at the time he ex-
amined the transcription. But since then,
says Mr.. LOCKER in the new copy of book
!, 327, record of squares now in constant
use in the surveyors office. and to which,
he states, no objection has as yet been
raised by the large number of title exam
Tiers and attorneys who have used it, there
has been appended to each of trans
cription of a note not originally on the old
page, a statement to the form in which
such note appears on the original whether
in red ink. pencil, ETC. to prevent entire
destruction by wear and tear.
ut Is obvious says the surveyor, that
something must be done to prevent such
irraparable loss. AS to Mr.. Robinson's
point that any copy made now should go
back directly to the unbound Sh cts in the
War Department, which are presumably
the originals of all data in existence as to
the subdivision of the squares of the city
of Washington, and their partition between
the United States and the original prOprie
tors. l feel constrained to say that. in view
of the conditions of the case. / think Il a
matter of grave doubt that such action
would he either feasible legal. In the
case of Ashley against Bradshaw, recently
decided by the Court of Appeals. l am in
formed by Mr. Darlington. counsel in said
case for those who base their claim to title
to certain lots in square 800 on the pencied
numbers on these lots as shown on original
Book l, 321, Records of Squares survey
Or's office. that the court has sustained the
verdict given him in the lower court. and in
effect sustatns Mr.. Justice McComas in the
opinion that the books of records of
squares which have been in constant use
in the surveyors office for nearly 100 years,
have become themselves the record, with
out regard to differences from the War De-
partment records, that undoubtedly exist
differences of vital character-in the writ
ing unquestiorably done, when the books
were made, not TO speak of the 'annota-
tons mentioned by Mr.. Robinson.
Effect of Ensures.
THE careless or intentional erasure of
these penciled figures in square 800 would
evidently have gravely complicated this
case above referred to- 1t is easy TO rub
out a pencil mark, but difficult to erase
completely mark in red ink, when the
records are under such thorough surveil-
larce as here All of these penciled notes
and many of these in red ink or other
colors are fast becoming illegible. The old
book is, of course, always availa5iA in get
tlament of any questioning Of the accuracy
of the copy, but is retired from active ser
vice, to be followed by all the other worn
out books whenever / obtain sufficient Of
flee force to proceed with the work, now
perforce suspended.
Il fear that If Mr.. Robinsons sugges-
tons be adopted confusion of the worst de-
scription would result in many cases, where
the changes made in the books many years
ago have been absolutely acquiesced in by
all parties affected. including this office
To disregard these important addenda
would now seem to me almost if not alto
gether, revolutionary: would be removing
the ancient landmarks and would be not
greatly conducive to the quieting of titles
Calls for Action.
I'm connection with this matter I cam
not too strongly urge that on completion of
the fire-proof vault for this office, now an
propriated for, the Commissioners will take
action on my exhaustive report of January
Y, ISIS on the right of the surveyor to the
control of all records of the divisions of
squares now on file in the War Department
which report. | think not only submits
clear proof of such contention being based
on acts OF Congress- but also shows the
extreme Inconvenience resulting to the gen
eral public having occasion to examine
these records, by reason of the distance of
the war Department from the center of
legal and land business in this CITY and the
TACT tnat these records are not generally
accessible to said public, as they Womb
nave to be (under obviously necessary re-
strlctions as to handlngl in this Office
where by law, they belong"
Ihe report made to them by the surveyor