The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-29


but great branches of the law have been
created certainly within the last cen
fury, and largely within the last third
of it.
THE LAW OF PRIVATE CORPORA
TONS,
and of quasi-public corporations, which
occupies so large a space in our text
books and reported cases, was almost I'M
known a century ago. Banks, railroads,
telegraphs and a thousand different kinds
of corporation have sprung up and grown
like Jonah's gourd. The statute law is
but a small part of the law applicable
to these omnipresent and Indispensable
agencies Of civilization. Laws concern
ing and conserving the public health;
laws providing for the poor, the aged,
and the infirm; laws providing for pub
lie education and in many cases for COM
pulsory education; laws simplifying tho
conveyance of real estate and the regis
tration of deeds-these are subjects OF
legislation that have practically been
created both in England and this country
within the last century. While some of
our States have been hesitating at the
adoption of the Torrens Act as revolu
tionary, in England real estate now
passes lin the absence Of settlemenD,
not to the heir-at-law. but to the per-
sonal Representatives; and the following
is now a sufficient conveyance Of realty
that has been registered:
"27 Jan, 1903. In consideration of
G....... hereby transfer to A. B. my
land. registered in Dist. Parish. .....
No. of title....... Signed, sealed and de-
livered," etc.
The growth of the law of negligence
has been phenomenal as has been the
learning in regard to municipal, county,
and State bonds. Municipal ownership
of water, gas, electricity, street-cars, and
Tin England) of tenement and lodging
houses, public laundries, public bakeries,
ferries, and similar matters, bids fair to
add many new features to our jurispru-
dence. In the marked growth of popu
lar sentiment in this country in favor of
governmental ownership of coal mines
(Which has of late received a sudden i'm
petus), of telegraphs, telephones, and
railroads, we are simply following the
track along which public sentiment has
forced government in nearly all other
most alone with us IN owning her
leading railway systems, though even she
added the telegraph and the express to
her post office as far back as 1870. 1t
seems to be foreshadowed that we must
do in these matters what all other civil
lied people are doing, and, if so, the next
few years shall see a still further de-
in our laws.
Slowly, but surely, the ages lift hui
upward, and every step for the
betterment of the condition Of the masses
is bitterly fought. But in that better
ment lies the progress of civilization.
1.-The road winds up hill all the way"
The track is covered with the bones of
martyrs, patriots. heroes, who have per-
ished in the struggle, by fire. in battle, |
il obloquy or in honor, as it may be, |
that the march to better things may go
on. Step by step the way is won.
ut is weary watching wave by wave,
And yet the tide heaves onward;
We climb like corals, grave by grave,
And pave a pathway sunward.
We are driven back for every fray,
A newer strength to borrow;
But where the vanguard camps today
The rear shall rest tomorrow.