East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-03-02

1t is expected that many tracts of
land will be registered under the
amended Torrens land transfer law
adopted at the session of the legisla-
ture just closed. A law that was ON
the statute books for 10 years was
amended by passing bill drafted by
r. c. Wright of Portland, to correct
glaring errors that had lessened the
value of the original act. The Ore
gon law now conforms to the Illinois
sctatute, under which millions of dol
lars worth of property has been reg
tstered.
Il believe that when people under
stand just what the Torrens law is"
says Mr.. Wright, "it will be adopted
generally By its provisions, one may
institute proceedings in the circuit
court to clear the title of a tract of
land, obtain a certificate which is
registered as proof of ownership, and
thereafter sell the land as quickly
as he could sell barrel of flour.
can think of no better way to illus
trate the difference between the old
method of obtaining an expensive alb
stract and the Torrens plan of secur-
Ing certificate. than to compare
them thus:
"A man goes to a merchant for his
bill The bookkeeper consults all the
books from the beginning of the
transactions that have been carried
on between the store and the Gus
toner, and makes out statement
In which appears every separate item.
Presume the transactions have gone
on for 40 years.
The customer would regard such
method OF doing business as clum-
sy and unsatisfactory.
But the abstract company gets up
set of books that correspond to the
ledger in the office of the man who
conducts his business properly. and
from which a balance of an account
fHaF be taken in five minutes. The
awkward method il the old manner
of transferring land, the arstractor's
method corresponds to the keeping
or balances in the ledger. If the alb
stractor's method is good for private
concern, why not for the state?
II have letters from officers in IL
linois and Manitoba, where the Tor
rens law is operative, who testify to
the growing popularity Of the system.
"The method of registering title to
a lot is very simple. The owner first
prepares an application which de-
scribes the property, gives his name
and address; what liens or incum-
brances stand against it, the names
of any persons claiming any interest
in it, and any other information he
has about the land. This is verified |
under oath the same as a complaint,
and any number of contiguous pieces
of land in the same county owned by
the same person in the same right, or
having the same chain of title and
belonging to the same person may be
included in one application, thus re-
ducing the expense. The application
is filed in court and then referred to
a competent person to examine the
title and report; and a summons is
issued direct to all persons mentioned
in the application and to all whom it
may concern, WHICH summons is serv-
ed personally on those in the state
and advertised as to all others,
IF any contest is made, the court
hears and disposes of the case in the
same manner as an ordinary suit to
quiet title; otherwise a default entry
is made and the title is ordered to be
registered by a regular decree made
on the examiners report.
Thereafter, the land is duly reg
Fgts
to the owner, showing his title and
any incumbrance, and when he sells
or mortgages, this certificate must
be presented and a new one issued
showing the changes in the title"