The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-08
THE =TORRENS SYSTEM
OF LAND REGISTRATION
BY EUGENE G. MASSIE.


Tho real estate OF Virginia is assessed
at a4s ga millions, or nearly three times
as much as nil the personal property
returned for taxation In the State.
You can sell your personal property or
borrow money on At quickly and at little
expense. Yous don't, have to employ
| lawyer to examine the title to your horse
or COW, norEto your oats and hay. nor TO-
| your stocks and bonds.
III you try to sell your land or borrow
money on It, tho first question IS: Have
you got a good title? n li8
| No ono will buy nor lend you money
without being satisfied about your tltln,3
| 1t must BIO examined by a lawyer, and
| you have to pny the bill. "
It doesn't matter how often the title
has been examined before, It has to be.
re-examined every time new deal is
made q n II. RAJ
The same old records are examined over
and over again. and every time you have
to pay the bill. @
1t takes days or weeks to make the ex--33
animation. and so many difficulties arc
| encountered that business men frequently
haven't time TO bother with a transac-t
| ton involving so many pro blems.
All this makes land hard and slow to,
$hnndle. 4.
The Torrens System will convert youri
lands into n quick asset and make them
available as a source Of commercial
\ credit.s IA
1t operates in the following manner:
| 1st. A title is examined once officially
1 and confirmed by order OF court. Ihat
| ends the matter.
I'd. You are then given certificate Of.
i title, which guarantees to all tho world
I that you have such title as is set forth
therein TO the Lands therein described
1 for example. n life estate, or a fee sim.
4 plc, In whole orsfn part, free from GU
i cun,brances or subject 10 such encur-
i ORANGES as are mentioned IN the CERT
i ncate.
4 Sd. You can deal with this certificate
4 OF title almost as freely as Will, a GER
4 tincate of stock; because everybody can
i soc from the certificate exactly what your
l title is.
This will put your real cstate5on FOOT
Hing with your personally. and will add
i millions to the business capital of Viz
i ginia.
THE Torrens act will hclp the farmers
/ and everybody who owns real estate In
the country, as we'll ms In the city.
1t will kill the business Of the land
grabber in Virginia.
1T will enable the State to. collect Its
taxes promptly and no mans land
when registered 4 can be sold for dein-
lquent taxes without his knowledge.
lit will help everybody who deals IN
4 real estate. i5 +,
III will lessen the cost or transactions
j in real estate, stimulate and enlarge
i tho market and thus increase values
4 and when a poor man buys home nc
i will get good title to 1t and no one
i can take it away from him.
A It will invite development OF the whole
state By settling titles. And It VIII
Il invite Immigration, because ~ strangers
4 will not hesitate to buy such guaranteed
q titles. 5s; lf .- Y
4 The Torrens system is no experiment.
Z 1t has been tested in Australia since
a 1883. and IS In operation In LONDON alld
u other portions Of England and many "
!, its provinces, including portions OF can
III II has also been adopted in illinois,
4 California, Massachusetts. Minnesota,
oregon, Colorado, the PHILIPPINES ana
Hawaii. And Iowa, Michigan. Hnoae
Island Wisconsin, Georgia wsn', a 9hIug DS
kota. Pennsylvania, Tennessee Texas,
Wa shington and West Virginia are con-
sIdering it, and taking steps for It's ago ago p
ton. gg5ft ~, 49,
II Virginia wishes to keep UP withntlle
a march OF progress, she must 40 justice
4 ~ gter land owners. The spirit OF our
4 land laws is the shirt OF medieval OPP
. preston nnnd restriction. We are NY
ing under a s,,peran nnatcd syst en-. oIlsl'
mated by Norman lawyers sunder " l1ll'I "
II ire Conaueror, aud venerable oll!S asas.',
antique relic Of a past age fe e
! methods are not suit to this age l4aWh
made whom lands were held under roy
wants ana sold FOR ten cents an acre
x ara not suited to the business met gas
ana commercial requirements of this day
Sec that oyary candidate for your yose
d is in favor Of tho Torrens SYSTEM sup'
mort no one who opposes ". Z
y II is entirely voluntary, not- cpnlpius
sory. Ittsimply gives you an Soppor!uHlss
l ia register your lands II YOU shonla as
4 ut TO do So . !, !, = =, "
should object, :. z y,
SECTION 100 Of our new Constitution seA,
necinlly authorizes the LagislntuI " "
adopt the Torrens SYSTEM ~ y'rgln,,n,ii
III has been approved by the flrs.n.9
tIon Of the clty8of Richmond. the VIZ
rmia Bankers Association he Virginia
Hoard OF Trade, the virginia Real Nv
n tnte Association, and the Champef ~
commerce OF tho city OF Richmond, !,
gttis supported BY The Times-D lspa ~
and the News Leader OF Richmond, Wy
Tar and the Ylrglnian7Pllol q
Norfolk; tile Petersburg lndex-Appeai
the Frederlcksburs Star, the Gharl ,,s =,