The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-06
COUNTY PURCHASES ABSTRACTS
Causes Much Talk Up at the COurt
HOuae.


officials at the court house were yester-
day excitedly discussing the pros and cons
of purchase by the county commissions
ers of what are claimed by some to be
antiquated and incomplete abstracts for
the sum Of $500. These same records,
it is charged were offered to another par
ty for $500 The deal was closed in ex-
ecutive session of the commissioners
Friday afternoon and the fact did not be-
come generally known until the warrant
for the payment of the abstracts was
drawn upon and paid by the county treas,
urer. The records in question are know.
as the Hank Heiserman abstracts. Mr..
Heiserman, from 1882 to 1886 was the
county register of deeds. The abstracts
made by him date from the time this
country was still government land and
go down with, It IS alleged many gaps,
to 1885. At the time the commissioners
decided upon the purchase of the alb
stracts, it is said they also entered into
a contract with Mr. Kerr whereby the
latter is to receive 8 1872 cents per entry
to bring the abstracts up to date and fill
in the gaps The additional cost, those
about the court house estimate win
amount to about $1,000 and the total cost
of the commissioners purchase when
completed viii aggregate about $4,000
Another ruling made 10y the commits
sioners was to the effect that in future
every one having a deed to file will be
compelled to pay ten cents for each lot
or tract Of land designated in the instru-
ment Two Of the commissioners nor
Mr.. Kerr could be seen for an interview
on the matter
Nothing that has happened in many
day caused as much comment in thel
court house as the abstract purchase,
and some of the fusion officials declare
that the commissioners have made a mis-
take
Commissioner J. 2. Howard was seen
last night relative to the purchase of the
abstracts and expressed himself in ap-
proval Of the deal ''The books, eighteen
in all were purchased" he said. "for the
good Of the general public and it win
realize within a few years the real worth
of the purchase. The books in course
of time viii pay for themselves. OF
course. I understand, as well as every one
else, that we have offended the abstract
ing companies by closing this deal with
Mr. Kerr. I wish to have It understood
that the county commissioners bought the
books from Mr. Kerr and that we cid
not recognize any other party in the
transaction The bill Of sale was made
out by Kerr and the warrant for 50 30
was drawn in his favor We further
agreed to give him 31-2 cents for each
entry to bring the books up to date and
also to Ill in the gaps. Beside this the
board has ordered that in future anyone
fling new deed shall pay ten cents for
each LOT or tract of land contained IN /
the instrument One half OF this fee
goes to the register of deeds and the
other to the county to pay for the main
tenance Of the abstract books. This mat
ter has not been hastily gone into. 1t
has been under consideration for at least
a year. I am surprised that there should
be any adverse criticism of the action of
the commissioner. I am sure that there
was no underhand work as far as I am
concerned and I can say as much for my
colleagues. one of the conditions of the
purchase was that Nj Kerr is to rebind
some Of the books and especially the one
in which the city property is recorded
must be rewritten entirely and both the
Old and new book is to be the property
Of the county. 1t viii possibly cost Mr.
Kerr some Sl25 to put them in q condition
that we exact of him. 7 again wish ~
emphasize the fact that I am. and have
not been a party to any scheming and
think that I have been before this pubMc
.ong enough for them 70 have confidence
In me-"