The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-10
The Land Records.
Editor of The Tlmes-pispatch:

Slr,-Having served as clerk of the
Land Office for the past five years. and
having very intimate knowledge OF the
records and files of the Office, / should
original land Office. This office contains
the original records OF all Virginia land
patents from 1923 to 1774. and the original
record Of all Virginia land grants from
lbs to this date. These records are the
original titles of all Virginia. West yir-
ginia (prior to lS6D and Kentucky lands
(prior to Its erection into an independent
State). The original plats and certif-
Gates OF surveys. which are the basis of
all patents and grants, are also filed IN
the office. And there are also about nine
thousand FIVE hundred original certificates
of service OF the officers and soldiers OF
the Revolutionary war upon which land
bounty was issued. and the warrants
French and Indian wars.
There is mistaken idea prevailing that
these land records are OF no value beyond
their historic value. but these records
and an, files are consulted daily. and GER
in land litigation In this State, West Vir-
GINA and Kentucky. There are cases
pending In probably every court in South
west Virginia at this time In which these
records figure very prominently. and in
sary to produce the original title from
the Commonwealth or a certified copy Of
the same as evidence in order to settle
the litigation. Only this week case
certified. copies Of the original patents,
prepared by me from the records OF the
office, were produced as evidence, and
the case decided in favor of the man
claiming title under these patents. Some
OF these patents were issued prior to 1876,
and would any one think that there is
litigation pending to-day over these old
patents issued before 1675-one hundred
years before the Revolutionary war?
There Their, Is litigation now pending In which
parties are consulting these records and
files daily. the litigation Involving mil
hons OF dollars, and hundreds of thou
sands OF acres OF land. 1t is generally
came from West Virginia to Richmond
and made an attempt to copy all the Viz
gina land grants (prior to 1861 for land
now lying In West Virginia this office
further work on the West Virginia rec rec.
ords. But that idea is wrong for more
than one Jason. First, Dyers work was
very badly done and any number of law
yers from his State do not depend upon
his work, but get their copies from this
lawyers of West Virginia prefer TO have
certified copies OF the original records
and fles rather than copies of any Sec
ond-hand work. 85ta
The Pocahontas Coal and Coke Com
pany does not have any work done at all
on the copies kept at Charleston, but gets
all OF its certified copies from this office
of the original records and files The
fees of this office, allowed by law, almost
sustain the office. SO the office is costing
the State very little. do not know Of
any State In the Union that does not
maintain a separate land office contain
ing the original land titles. and In some
States the records are guarded with the
most rigid care, fees being charged for n
casual examination.
Very truly yours,
Clerk Land Office,