davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03

accrue to the state from eschsats. for
| FIXTURES. fines. sales OF delinquent lands
| and so ON. and eac year the sum OIL
| $4,000 was distributed throughout the
counties and cities for the support oil
| pchooIs for indient Children There WAS,
| in addition, an appropriation OF slo,oVo
| n year to the University of virginia, ana
81, 800 n year to tho Virginia Military In
stitute ont of this fund.
| But besides this 4, was provided thu
the council OF city or town having a
corporation court might adopt the Tree
school system. and further that on the
| petition of one-fourth OF such of the
! white male citizens, aged twenty-ohe
| years. resident In any county WITHOUT
| limits of any such city or town, as might
| he entitled to vote In an election of n
| delegate from such county or should have
been assessed with n part of the county
levy within the preceding year or act-
ually paid the same. the court oil the
county should order q vote to he taken
for or against the free school system,
and that if two-thlrds of the votes should
be in favor of adopting the system tie
court should have the fact entered on the
minutes Of its proceedings and order
copy to be delivered to the existing
board of school commissioners of such
county.
After that the board was required 20
have the county laid out into school dis
tricts and another election would then
Doe held to choose new board OF schooi
commissioners. The commissioners thus
chosen took the place of the commits
sioners appointed by the court for the
management of the schools of INDECENT
children and the new board made Az
assessment upon the county for funds 10
establish the school. employed the teach
ers and but the free school system into
operation.
Any white child between the ages of
six and twenty-one resident OF district
were allowed TO attend school and be
instructed without cost.
1t is worthy of not, however. .i,at
there was no provision for compulsory
attendance. Indeed, it was expressly
stated that even INDECENT children
shoald not be required to attend the pub
lie schools, without the consent of their
parents or guardian. Nirginians are very
jealous OF their personal rights, and as
rule they arc not ready. we believe,
for a compulsory attendance law. But
there is a strong sentiment in favor of
such n measure. and by and by 1t Will
break down prejudice. and prevail. Note
| the prediction.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
The Land Question in Virginia.
CHAPTER |.


THE RECORD SYSTEM AND THE
REGISTRY SYSTEM.
1t is admitted by thoughtful students
and evident to all who have had any
dealings in real estate. that reform in
our land laws is badly needed. The only
questions are, How shall 1t be made
and to what extent shall it go? Can
satisfactory results be obtained by
amending the existing law? Or, must
new system be adopted? No answer to
these inquiries can be given without a
consideration OF the difference between
what may be termed the record sys-
tenn and that which Is properly termed
the registry system" Virginia enjoys
the honor of having inaugtrated her re-
cord system nearly forty years before
the enactment of the great Statute OF
Frauds" in the reign OF Charles II. OF
England.
THE RECORD SYSTEM.
The record system requires evidences
| of title to be recorded where the land
| lies, and makes such record notice to
| third parties. 1t deals only with evil
! dcnces of title, and record Is construc-
| tive notice. But many Incidents that
| affect title are not required to be re-
corded. Thus there is no record of the
| heirs OF deccdents.i and none of adverse
| possession. Title may also arise by de-
| cree of court unrecorded In the deed
| books: by unrecorded marriage; and by
| llnrecorded will or deed within the
| periods which may arise In many ways.
/ There are also those mysterious crea-
lures known as equitable titles. whose
birth and existence may not be depen-
dent upon recordation. 1t is therefore
impossible to get full information from
| the public records. and they are to this
! extent in the nature of snare. With
out looking any further. 1t is apparent
i that two inherent defects lie at the root
! of the record system:
| First. 1t deals simply with evidences
of title.
Second 1t does not require all evil
| dences to be recorded
The results are endless searches OF all
| the records every time any transaction
is desired. and lack of certainty after
the search is made. The search involves
the work of an expert, who must assume
grave responsibilities. Ile requires time
| for his labor, and must be paid In pro-
| portion to the nature of the service rem
/ dered and the assurance given. The
/ transfer of title to real estate is there
fore, slow, cumbrous, expensive and un-
certain. Hence such property is rem
dered undesirable for general invest
ment. unavailable as a source of credit
with banks. and wholly unsuited to the
commercial demands OF the twentieth
century This naturally restricts Its
market and inevitably depresses Its
A value. Thus every Individual owner is
injured, business is frequently cramped
where 1t might otherwise be extended
and the Commonwealth suffers In the
comparatively small returns from taxes
The average assessment of lands In Vir
gnia, as shown by the Auditors Report
for 1904, exclusive of buildings, was S4.S1
per acre. The assessed value of lands
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
The Objections.

Yet we are met with the objection that
1t ought not to be easy TO convey lands;
that there ought to be some Investments
which are dinicult to dispose of, in order
that thriftless people may be deferred
from dtsposing of their property. That
smacl,s so muca Of government paternal-
ism that i, is s-,eugf1 to disgust every
manly man. The government has no btrsl-
ness setting itself up as guardian of the
people. There are thriftless people, and
some OF them own real estate; but those
who are not thristless should not be
made to suffer for the benefit of those
who are. All things else being equal the
most saleable asset IS the most desirable
asset II 4 man has the stocks and bonds
OF a good corporation, he can always find
ready sale for them, or he can take them
70 bank and borrow on them privately
and quickly. and without going through
with an expensive legal process. But if
he has lands. before he can make a sale
l,o must have the title examined, and
deeds prepared and recorded, ana go
through With other red tape processes.
troublesome and expensive. before the
transaction can be completed or ii he
wishes TO borrow money, the difficulty
and the expense are even greater, Ii he
porrows money ON IFS stock or bonds.
the fact Is known only TO himself and his
banker; II he borrows money on his real
estate. the fact that lie has mortgased
his property Is proclaimed TO the public
sometimes 10 tho injury OF his credit.
no wonder stocks and bonds nave be,
come greater favorites than real estate
10 men seeking investments. When {
man buys g piece of real estate, he viz
tualiy locks uP his caFtsal; when he buys
stocks ard bonds he may draw his in
come from them and yet use them II
business transactions as so much liz
capital.
II is not asked tha, this system b
made compulsory IN Virginia, 1t is onl
asked thar those who like ii may hay
the privilege Of adopting and using 1T 70
their benefit. and we cannot understan
wins the Legislature should deny thi
privilege TO those who seek It.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03

The Petersburg Index-A Appeal comes out
In a stronS article on the Torrens Land
Registration BILL now pending in the
General Assembly II declares that Hon.
Eugene c. Massie patron, has met every
argument against the measure fully. fair
iy and satisfactorily, and that there
seems to be nothing left to the oppo-
sition worthy of legislative considora-
tion,' our contemporary is of opinion
that even II the cost would be great
the benefits would more than compen-
safe 1t saws that the obstacles In the
way Of verifying land titles under the
present system has done more than any
thing or everything else to dopress the
value of land and TO impair its ayaiia-
bility MS n commercial and bankable
asset; that under the Torrens system
the business man could invest the profits
of good year in real estate without
apprehension that he was Gripping or
cramping his business BY burdening him
self with an unavailable asset, when
the Inevitable duh season should come
around. or when business activity made
It necessary for him to have the use
of his money temporarily. THE not
unnatural wish of bank presidents" it
concludes, that paper should be easily
negotiable would be realIsed, and the
business man could take his Torrens
certificate, representing a safe prodt-pay-
ing asset OF from to 10 per cent, and
carry 1t TO the bank with as great or
greater assurance of accommodation than
he would have with the low-lnterest-rate
bond which is the toy and prey of Wall
Street spectators. The Torrens system
as law would help the farmer, the mer-
chant and the manufacturer and would
raise land, which is the very basis Of
all wealth, to tine dignity of a first-class
asset in the commercial and financial
world
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
MR.. JOHN w. WHEAT. Z
mother Confederate War Veteran
Passes Over the Great Divide.

Especial to The Tlmes-Dlspatch.)
LEXINGTON, VA. February 2.-Mr.
John w. Wheat, prominent and we'll
known citizen of Fairfield Rockbridge
county, died at his home at that place
"Wednesday morning Of consumption, af-
ter an extended Illness. Funeral services
were conducted Thursday morning from
the Fairfield Presbyterian Church. Rev.
j. Spencer Smith, the pastor, officiating.
Mr.. Wheat was sixty-seven years OF age
He was twice postmaster at Fairfield
frat during the Garfield Arthur admins
tratlou. ard later under Harrison's adj
mnlstration.
Mr.. Wheat was gallant soldier in the
Confederate army. He enlisted IN 1851
III the rwcnty-seventh Virginia Infantry,
asonswall Brigade but later was trans
ferred 10 Company @. Fourteenth Virginia
cavalry. In the fall Of 1862 ne was cap
tured In Greenbrier county, w. Va, and
VAS exchanged in 1863 and rejoined his
command.
Mr. Wheat is survived by his wife
who was Miss McCutchnn OF Rock-
bridsc. and ole daughter, Miss. jennie ID
Wheat, OF Buena Vista.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
INCREASED WORK
IN P0sT0Ff|C[
Richmond Shows Increase of Eff.
teen Per Cent. in Postal Re-
ceipts for January.

The report of the business done in tn,
Richmond Post Office, for the month OF
January, shows a very gratifying In
crease in the volume OF mail handled
ms compared with the figures recorded IN
the corresponding month OF last year. 1,
Is gratifying because Postofice business
Is the surcst index OF the general busi-
ness of community. The increase OF
Is per cent. In the business of the post
Office shows as nothing else could show,
the commercial strides Richmond is max
ing.
The figures revealed by the postofiice
reports, are as follows:
Total receipts January. 1885,. sA,s7s.6s
Total receipts January. lao5.... Ss,si62s
Increase for January. 1906. over
the same month last year. 5.e32,3i
This is an increase of something over
is per cent Special delivery letters were
handled In January, to the number of
s,T6i. Handled in January. 1905. 3.las. In
crease this January oTer last, 57l
The office paid out in January to Sl2
rural free delivery carriers. the sum OF
si6575so, an increase over the same pay
roll for Januar5, 1875 of $500.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
THIS DAY INHIsTORY
February Sd.

1o14-Sweyn, King of Denmark. died.
1aso-John. OF Gaunt. Duke of Lancas-
ter. died; he was the son of Edward
III. was a prince of distinguished
Valor and prudence and a patron of
the poet. Chaucer.
1e60-Charles *, of Sweden, died. He
assembled the throne In 1854. and was
prudent, though warike, monarch.
1ees-Ernest Augustus. Duke of Han
over. Bishop of Osnabruck. and father
of George l.. of England. died.
17e2-Demerara and Assequibo surren-
dered by capitulation from the
French.
17e4-George Ill. and Queen Charlotte
went to Haymarket Theatre. which
attracted so great crowd that more
than fifteen persons were trampled
to death.
1797-Faenza, in! Italy. carried By as
sault by the French. under Victor
afterwards Duke of Belluno.
1soo-Four British ships carrying in all
LOG guns, captured off Seven Islands.
after a close action OF two hours and
ten minutes, the French frlgate Pal
las, of forty-two guns and $50 men.
British loss, ten killed, thirty-four
wounded
tso7-Montevideo taken by storm by the
British.
1eos-The Neapolitan garrison of Reggie
surrendered to the French.
1so9-Thc French national ship Iris,
twenty-four guns, captured by the
British ship rAmiabIe.
1eoe-The Spanish ,Junta in Seville issued
orders to their troops to give no quar-
ter to the French found in Spain.
1s1o-Brltish ship Valiant, OF seventy
four guns, captured the French
frigate Cannoniere, fourteen guns
with cargo worth 100000.
The French DESTROYED the quick
silver mines at FL Almoden del
Azonue, near Seville.
1870 uadaloupe surrendered to the
British.
1s1a-The Spanish Cortez abolished the
inquisition.
Electromagnetic entered Troyes. Same
day the Russians and Prussians BON.
barded vitry defended by the French
under General Montmartre.
1s31-The Duke of Nemours elected King
OF Belgium.
1852 Battle of Santos Lugares. neal
Buenos Ayres, between the army OF
JTruuiza. 30 600 men and fifty cannon
and Rosas. $4,000 men and ninety
cannon. Rosas was defeated ant
took refuge on board an English
steamer. The city was saved from
pillage by ships OF war of all nations
then in the harbor.
te55-Booth and Rycrnft convicted IN th'
Federal Court OF wisconsin for viola
ton of the fugitive slave law were
discharged by the Supreme Court o
the State
| 1a62-The Federal government decldec
| that the crews of the captured prl
vateers were to be considered rs pris,
| oners OF war.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
A Lawyers Complaint.

Editor of The Times-Dispatch:
Sirs-Knowing your uniform and fair
conduct in the publication of your paper.
desire, as counsel for my client, Rev.
j. II. A. Cyrus. of Port Royal, Va, to
request you to publish this letter
My client some time ago sued the Bos-
ton Chemical Company for damages for
publishing his likeness in connection with
certain preparation called "Ozono, In
a number OF publications published by
colored people in several parts of the
United States, which preparation claimed
to have the power to make the hair of
colored people straight. etc. He proved
that he was treasurer, and Is now, OF the
National Baptist Convention of the United
States, and by nine of the most intelli-
gent, responsible and worthy colored men
in the country. men who have known
him for many years, that he was Il man
whose position as man.. preacher and
educator was OF the highest standard.
He is certainly n man admired by his
trace, and is looked upon as refined and
educated colored man.
Being man of such character, he
thought. as did his friends, that the pubr
| lication OF his picture in this connection
was calcula ted to bring him into contempt
! and rdicule, and injure the great work
| of his life. He came TO Richmond about
| a year before this suit was brought, and
| sent his counsel to see the defendant
| company and request 1t to discontinue the
| publication of this advertisement. His
/ counsel went to see Sthe gentlemen who
| handled tho advertisement. and he prom
| Used to take the picture out OF the papers;
| this was not done, however, and suit
was brought. This evidence showing
that the defendant had notice that they
| nuhliShed tho rlaintiff's pictIre was not
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
Merely Joking.

Ich7-"some OF my jokes" declared
the budding humorst, "have been extern
sively copied. "As jokes?" asked a heart
less friend, "or as auasi-literary curiosi-
ties?"
Coaches, College and stase.-The emil
nent football magnate had demanded a
fifth cup of coffee. II know now" said
his wife, passing it to him, why they
call you a coach.' well. why?" he
asked. Because there is always room In
you for one more.''-Chicago Tribune.
Cold Water on His ProposaI.-Dick:
Yes, 1T is never too cold for Cupid.
proposed on an ice yacht once" Eva:
Indeed! And did the proposal go
through?' Dick: Eyes, and so did the
ice."-Chicago News.
He Was Using lt.-Mamma Cat the
breakfast table,: you always ought to
use your napkin, Georgia" George: II
am using It, mamma. I've got the dog
tied to the leg of the table with it."-Ex-
change.
Relatively speakIne-"what are Ard
luk's relations with his wifc's people?"
Entirely imaginary They don't recog-
nize him as u relation at all."-Chicago
Tribune.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
THE REGISTRY SYSTEM.

The distinction of the Torrens System
Is that 1t registers title. instead Of mere
evidences of title. Thus 1t deals with
the thing itself. and every transfer Is
a transfer OF actual title. Therefore.
there is no need OF looking backward.
but every step is forward. and taken
with certainty. CELEBRITY and cheapness.
No expert Is required to ascertain or
explain conditions under ordinary cir
cumstances. and II there be any extra
ordinary circumstances. plain warning is
given on the face of the certificate of
title Everything is there put down in Il
clear and concise manner, and nothing
can affect the title except what Is so
registered. Laymen and business men
are thus enabled to deal with real estate
With a freedom similar TO that with
which they now deal with registered GER
tificates Of stock and bonds. Thus cap
ital is no longer buried when invested
in real estate, and many a man who is
now unable to buy a home because he
cannot withdraw from his business the
sum required for such purchase. Will
be enabled to provide home for his
wife and children: for registered real
estate will become well-recogni.ed and
desirable source of credit. Many man
will also be saved from bankruptcy and
| lily in times of financial stress by the
credit derived from his real estate Also
men of small means. whose fortunes are
| practically all invested in their homes.
| will be able to secure small loans and
short loans. SO often necessary for the
| relief Of present distress. Such a thing
| is now out of the question. How many
| loans are now made on real estate for
| three months, six months. nine months.
! or even a year? How many loans arc
| now made on real estate for 800, 5000
| $500? Such transactions are unheard of
under our existing laws, on account Of
| expense, delay. and uncertainties But
| they are frequent in countries where the
Torrens System prevails Is it fair to
place the poor man In this condition?
| Is 1t not really depriving him of his pro-
perty to the extent that no is deprived
of its free use? 1t doesn't make so much
difference to the rich man, because only
] a small or Infnitesimal part Of his for
1 tune is Invested in his home, luxurious
though 1t be. But the man of small
means, that humble individual who COM
poses vast majority of Our citizens, has
all his possessions tied up in, his slowly
! home. Our present laws therefore, bear
with peculiar hardship upon the great
majority OF our people, and the good old
Democratic doctrine Of "the greatest
good to the greatest number" should in
cline the Legislature TO favor the Tor
rens System.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
Newspaper Tributes.

On the demise Of the late
Henry Clay Payne, concern in
New York gathered from the
papers published throughout
tho United States 4.G85 news
paper stories of the life and ca
reer Of the deceased.
These items were carefully
mounted on Irish linen leaves
and bound in 6 volumes, 400
pages to the book. "A cover of
genuine seal was appropriately
lettered In gold and the entire
material. representing the work
Of many people for several
months, has Just been delivered
to Mrs. Payne at Milwaukee.
Mr.. Burrelle, who makes
speciality of this unique method
of preserving family history,
also complied four volumes con-
tanning the letters, kilograms
and cards Of condolences received
by the family, all constituting q
family heirloom that will be-
handed down to future genera
lions.
This work is one of the sew
eral developments of the press
clipping industry and Mr.. Bur-
relle has made special study
Of the work he created several
YanrH AGO. N
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
Editorial Restraint.

An Associated Press dispatch from At
lnnta says that John Temple Graves
has been temporarily removed from the
position of editor-in-chief OF the Atlanta
News on petition of Charles Daniel
business manager and managing editor
of the paper, granted by Judge Pendle-
ton. of the Superior Court.
Mr.. Graves is one of Georgia's most
eloquent orators and brilliant writer's.
The News is Atlanta's red-headed news
papers. and is very lively publication.
Mr. Graves has helped to make it so.
Mr. Graves not only speaks oratory; he
writes It He is stump speaker in
print, spectacular and hambuoyant, and
he is always entertaining. even so when
he runs William r. Heart for the presi-
dency.
But for some reason there was lack of
harmony between the editorial end of
the paper, controlled by Mr..
Graves, and the business end. con-
trolled by Manager Daniel. The two de-
partments did not coordinate. and finally
Daniel came to Judgment. He petitioned
the court to enioin. restrain and utterly
prohibit the flow of Graves eloquence
into the columns of the News. He de-
clared that Mr.. Graves was afflicted with
a combined attack OF egotsm and politics;
that e>was using the paper to advertise
himself and promote his candidacy for
office, without paying the card rate for
such service. and that he was so much
in love with himself that any sort of 4
communication was sure to be admitted
by the editor II only the writer took
Pains to preface it with the sentence
II read your able editorials, and am Il
great ad1nirer Of Them
The contest has. -been going on fol
weeks. and, of course. Editor Graves
has denied all the offensive, allegations
of the business manager and hurled then
back in oratorical scorn. But. oratory is
no match for business. Mr.. Graves is
enjoinad and restrained. at least tenn
porarily and the editorial columns OF
the News are bereft and In mourning.
1t is a sad story for us editors, and
our sympathes so out to Brother Graves
1t is humiliating that the free speech
should be muzzled by base commercial
ism. What are we editors coming to
and what is coming 10 us?
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
Local Option and Schools.

The recommendation os Governor Mon
taEpe that each city and county in the
State be given the option Of. adoppbs
compulsory school attendance recalls
that the first pubic school syateEa which
Virginia had was founded on locaI option
principles. ~ those days distinction was
made AetSfeen s'seleols for lhdigant
ahlldren and free schools, The state
lad what was known rs the literary
fund 70 which belonged whatever might
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
rhymes far G;7o.Dgy.
How to Feel Rich.

Wheneer my heart is moved to bleed
LII that my life seems poor and blank,
steal OFF by myself and read
Tile ad of some bright savings banls--
one OF those lovely statements which
SLOW how lean purses change 70 fat.
ana how poor man wakes rich
And dies a plutocrnt.
Just think! If you entrust eact, day
One penny to your bankers care,
You'll find. before your hair .is gray,
mat you've become millionaire.
One dollar saved tip every week
VIII shortly Yield house, and lot,
AS well as (by this plan unlque)
a country-seat and yacht.
Sweet compound interest for aye!
It's working while its owner sleeps;
1t makes the pennies multiply
And dollars aggregate In heaps.
Thats why whenc'er I'm off my feed
And feel penurlous and bad,
buy q paper quick and read
H. S. II.