The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-25
SATURDAY. APRIL %. 1903.
GROWING IN FAVOR.

Eeveral 1ntGICSlllG iS'NN
cen,,v been received by c'''Nei -
Richmond from distinguished lawyers
n nprovtng the Torrens land registry sss-
fem. Ono of these is from hon. y. =.
r,r.,, NJ Winchester, in which he sus-
costs certain changes in inc piii ~"
under discussion, adding that with These
slight suggestions, desire to say tna'
a,+,re,v commend the bill and beheVe
.,,+ A. ,s as nearly perfect as 1T can De
,ao 81 present. I will take pleasure
in commanding in any way can .ne
massage OF this bill. I am very earnestly
an advocate of the Torrens systeH' anu
he,,eve that 1t will give tho PROFESSION
ana Tho public great satisfaction when u
Is duly put into operation.
Another letter Is from Hon. "A. :. braA-
ton OF Stanton, in which ne says .i'a'
while he cannot claim to have any teci'-
meal or expert knowledge OF the prac''-
10, working Of the Torrens plan. he mas
made considerable inquiry as 10 us e'''-
ciency a5.a aesirab,lttys the result pe't's
"a satisfy him that the system, especla'ls
when made optional. rs 1t IS proposed 10
s,,,ke Il. SIS a most desirable one from
many standpoints; that 1t will be parucu-
larry beneficial to the poorer class OIL
people owning small lots Of land, "h'ch
cannot support the expense incioesh' 70
the conveyance by which alone the prop
ortv can be sold or hypothecated. Con-
t,nuing, ho says that the system has long
since passed the experimental stage and
he believes that If 1t is generally avalied
~ throughout Virginia, IT VIII very
crcotly Increase the value of real estate
particularly Of 's,-r,aI holdings ana also
effect great saving to the people IN the
matter Of land transfer.
Mr., r. b. Davis, a prominent member
81 the House Committee for Courts OF
1nstice, has also received letter from
Judge Leonard A. Jones. OF the Court or
Land Registration for the State OF Mas
sachusetts, In which that gentleman
makes some suggestions concerning the
proposed Virginia law, and takes occa-
sion to say that lie feels certain that
within a very few years title registration
will be adopted generally throughout the
country. He adds that he receives let
.ers continually from almost every State
and territory in regard to this reform,
showing that many earnest men are
working for Its adoption everywhere,
ana that legislation Is sure to follow. In
conclusion, he asserts that in Massachu-
sets the 1'orrens system is constantly
growing In favor. and that the petl-
tons are increasing in number. He Is
satisfied that the system would be more
generally usedA iii that State If land
owners understood Its simplicity and It's
merit. I'm many cases." says he. IAN
adjoining owner who has been summoned
In and has come here and had the sys-
TEN explained, has soon come In himself
with petition
So far as information goes. the system
has proven to be most satisfactory and
beneficial wherever 1t has been tried
and II it is a good thing for Massachu-
sets, and for Illinois, and for Australia
why In the name OF common sense is II
not a good thing for virginia? If 1t was
proposed TO make the system compulsory.
we should be at least slow to recommend
It's adoption In Virginia; but as it is to
be entirely optional with the landowner
whether or not he will take advantage
of 1t, we can see no possible harm In
giving him the privilege of adopting 1t
or not, as he sees proper,
Since this article was written, we have
seen letter from a prominent lawyer Of
Pennsylvania, VINO is preparing paper
on the subject. TO be read before the
State Bar Association, with view to
having that organization advocate the
adoption OF the system for Pennsylvania.