The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1907-04-19
THE ABSTRACT
PROPOSITION
J. E. FuItz Dispassionately Re-
views the Situation.
APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM
To be up.tO-date ST. LuCie Count, Should
be the Custodian of Her Own
Real Estate Records.
Fort Pierce, Fla, April II, 1907,

roTl IIcrcc, i IT,, hpil - i'"i'
Editor TRIBUNE:
think we have had enough of cr,.
cism and abuse on he abstract question
bat in my opinion not one word of real
argument. With your permission |
will venture few remarks, and trust
that will not be accused Of knowing
it all, or of being ignorant of the sub
ject,
To my mind the first consideration
should be. DOVE want our records kept
in Fort Pierce, or is Titusvile u salts
factory depository? If Titusville suits
us, it would be folly to spend any
money for records. IT, however. we
wish to be the custodans of our own
records las all up-to-date progressive
people do), then comes the question::
What Is the most economical plan to
secure them? Two years ago when
certain newspapers and individuals
claimed that it would cost $4,000 to
transcribe the necessary records from
Brevard, some Of US who were very
strong for county division laughed at
the idea, but went on to say that even
If it did cost that sum, we were easily
equal to the job. admit having been
one of that number, and that was a
little off as to that So, 900 estimate, but
| still believe as did then that we can
manage it without any serious incOn-
venience. Butsthere is no necessity for
TRANSFERRING the records in full. A COM
plete up-to-date set of abstract books
and blanks, ready for business. would
cost much less, and in addition to hav-
ing all necessary real estate records,
we would be prepared to make alb
stracts as well, thereby saving the
people thousands of dollars.
The so-caled argument that not IA
dollar invested in this enterprise would
ever come back to the treasury. was
surely bright. original idea. Does any
part of the funds paid for county work
find its way back into the treasury
Apply this rule generally and where
would we be? Without schools, roads
or even county officers.
Another so-called argument is, no one
would be benefited by the county going
into the abstract business, but the
la wyers and real estate men. If real
estate men includes all who own real
estate, they are certainly of enough
Importance to be considered. even il
the lawyers are not. But so far Us |
can see, no one reaps the benefit and
enjoys the profits of private abstract
company, but lawyers and real estate
dealers, while the people who own, sell
and buy real estate. must put up the
Dough.
One objector claims that the Clerk
mi yht not be able to make good alb
stracts. Is it not just as probable that
tn, assessor. collector, treasurer, ETC.,
might be deficient in their special lines?
If so, do our objecting friends favor
turning over all our county business to
firm of abstract lawyers ? have al
WAYS been under the impression that
the public was safer in the hands OF
DO ,ded officials selected by the people,
than any other way.
If the protest by the grand jury
against county abstracts had been
supplemented by a better or more
&c )nomcal plan to secure the necessary
records, | am sure the county comms.
soners would have gladly accepted it,
b 1t as nothing was offered, the board
should certainly feel safe in complying
with the expressed will Of the people
as shown by the petition which the old
boarl accepted and promised to put in
to effect as soon as practicable,
For fear will be accused of knowing
all or nothing, close by appealing to
all honest citizens to refrain from
abuse in future, and respect and honor
those who honestly differ in opinion
with you. If we love st. Lucie county,
let's stand together and make her one
of the best in the State.
Respectfully submitted,