Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-24
Card Index Maintained,

I'VE MAINTAIN a card index of each lot
parcel of land in both the city and the
county and endeavor to keep it current as
to ownership, subdivision. description, as
sessed valuation, etc. I am sure that an
examination of our system will develop the
fact that its results are nearly perfect, bar
ring those mistakes which have been hand
ed down to us by our predecessors and
which we are making every effort to weed
out.
"In justice to the Office attention must
be called to the fact that in certain DOR
IL MS of the District, particularly in parts of
Georgetown and the county, technically per-
rect descriptions are impossible until an
Gent surveys are verified or dsproved.
These cases are being very gradually elm
mated
Each year, before the annual tax sale
lists are made of the property to be ad-
vertised, and in the case of each niece of
property other than whole lots fhe hast
descriptions obtainable are given; but it is
manifest that we have not the force NOR
the time to go back for years in the case
of each piece Of property and verify the old
descriptions, or run the titles This is done.
however, in all cases where there is rea-
sonable doubt, and 1 state without fear of
successful contradiction, that this work is
well done and that the percentage of errors
is creditably small.
FOR the purposes of transferring real
property ON the records of this office, there
IS vast difference between deeds and
Wills Deeds. in nearly every instance con-
Vey from one person, whose name is snecif
lcaliy mentioned to another certain nerson
property particularly and accurately de-
scfiped. wills, however. in the majority
or instances are ambiguous faulty inac
curate, and lack perspicuity; the result he
ing that the Office takes a serious risk in
transferring property upon their authority.
t +s que TO the fact that many of
them devise Simply all of the estate of
the devisor and also because of the SINH
larity of names
Regarded as Impracticable.
Even with the most assiduous attart;or
and careful investigation, it is fmpracticabIa
to at all times assess property in the name
OF the real owner for the reason that the
necessary information is not obtainable
For instance, Mrs. Mary Smith may own a
piece or real estate and 1t is assessed in
her name If she dies intestate, the life
estate IN the property goes to her husband.
as tenant by the courtesy Upon his death
the title descends to her heirs at law. Tn
case or this kind, in order to properly
assess the property in the name of the
legal owner. this Office must be apprised Of
the death of Mrs Smith; then the death of
heirs at law si
1t Is very common practice for men to
Will their property to their wives for life
Ut ourlnS their WldOwhOod, making pro-
vision that upon the happening of either
contingency-that is the death or remar-
rage OF the widows-the property should
go to other persons. It is manifest that
IN order to properly assess the property
this office must be Immediately informed
of either such death or remarriage
Conditions Under Courts Ruling.
while such statement may seem ex-
IRENE and may be ludicreus, it is fact
that in order to absolutely determine at all
times the person to whom property should
be assessed, under the recent ruling of the
Court Of Appeals, this Office should have at
all times in its possession daily abstracts
of all deeds recorded and wills probated,
and of all marriages. births, deaths, de-
crees of the court and the family tree of
every person holding title to real property
in the District of Columbia. 1t is obvious
that this is impracticable, as it would re-
suit in practically making this Office
title insurance company. Nevertheless, we
make every effort to ascertain the legal J