The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-07
s. " * IS = = sl X <; 4; sa # u sl " X
/ THE TORRENS +:
LAND SYSTEM ]


Now that voters are beginning to
study state propositions TO be voted
on November 8. the speech OF lion.
Wm. H. Murray OIL tas Torrens lana
sysicr;, s'a,e Question No. .. siI be
iar lntcr,,i
Gentlemen. | desire to explain that
system Of land registration known as
The Torrcns' Land system sys.
ten of registering titles as distin.
gnishcd from registering evidence OF
title such rs deeds, which system
brings about our cumbersome, cxpca-
sive and uncertain abstract system.
/ The Torrcns' systcm had its origin IN
Australia In 1854. IL first came to the
United States and received official
notice by Governor Russell. OF Massa.
chusetls, whore II Is in force in hs
fullest vigor Of any state In tho Amer
lean Uuion; although II Is 10 force IN
modified form In the states of Cai.-
fornia, Colorado. Minnesota, Ore.
gon and Washington and by the
Philippine commission and acts of
congress has been adopted In Hawaii
and the Philippine islands, a copy OF
which last laws | have IN my posscs.
sion. ltwas extended throughout. The
German empire by tho code OF 200
u Is also In Denmark Austria aud
lluugarla and most of the cantous Of
Switzerland The county OF London.
England, and In most of the provinces
Of Canada; In fact, IN my opinion the
law as II is in force in tho province
Of Ontario IS the best on this cont.
ncni Il Is in force in some form
ip 8ll OF these states Notwithstanding
the stubborn opposition with which g
has been met by the abstract cor.
panlcs and by land attorneys. When
once understood II Is Irresistible, be.
cause It Is the one law, aud the only
ono with which am acquainted. upon
which The richest man IN the state as
well as The poorest in the state unitc
their endorsements. II Is true ii is
hurtfnl TO the abstract system and
they fight IT, II is hurtfui to the
land lawyer, and Of course, he fights
II; however. for the first generation
II VIII assist the land lawyer and give
him an increased amount of litigation
that Is, until the system Is complete
" installed. after which land suit
Involving title Is practically unknown.
Suits. OF course, will occur 10 fore.
close liens for taxes and for the loan
OF money. and also TO probate wills
and estates. bur the title is at every
stage known to every citizen who
can read--not so with the abstract
system. BY The method OF abstract.
ing generally in force IN the United
States, everything Is uncertain and az
tended With great expense. ANY
farmer or business man desiring 10
purchase land first demands of the
land owner 10 procure an abstract.
which usuually costs S1.0O page with
ono page for every transfer, hence
in the course Of a hundred years say
there may be 20 or 100 or more OF
those transfers each costing 90 cents
to Sl.00 mage. every step since the
beginning OF the sale of that land Is
recited IN an abstract. A friend Of
niue recently told me Of one abstract
in tho statc OF Kansas that cost him
81 i00.0O There was an abstract
made out in the City OF Mckee o short
while ago that weighed 500 pounds
and cost many thousands OF dollars
The ntxt step OF the purchaser is to
prosclrI that abstract to a lawyer aud
reiGin him 10 look It over and rende.
an opinion as TO the title. Tho law
scr docs so aud gives an opinion thai
may he good aud 1t may be absolute
ly worthless. the man goes upon the
land. (pcrhaps 1t is unimproyed) he
builds n home upon II and after be
is fixed and feels that be is safer
anchored once In home. Years rolled
by; defect in the title is discovered; !;
tue real owner sued him for posses
slon: he COOS into court. Is defeated
IN the first trial. he soils some of bis
personal property aud appeals the
casc and hires additional counsel; M
loses again ard goes TO the supreme
couri whore be loses not Only the per
sonal property which he had to spend
FOR attorneys fees aud court costs. bul
loses bis case and his home, This l.
not overdrawn, hundreds OF occur
rcnccs OF this kind have happened, Il
is not an exception even TO tho rule
IL Is the rule. Again. under the alb
siraci system nian desires 10 Dor
row some money quickly 10 save him
/ perhaps from financial ruin; he goe,
\ TO The bank, the bank Is afraid Of N,
iiiilc. The bank has no certain mean:
OF knowing especially al the moment
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