The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-20
MURRAY
{ LA|NS
TORRE:NS
SYSTEM
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
Permit me, briefly, TO explain some
OF the features of the Torrens land
title registration system, known AS
state question No. ?. which is in The
form OF q constitutional amendment
to be voted on in the election on the
third day OF november. This system
is a safe inexpensive but certain
method of transferring title to real es,
tate The fundamental ideas in the
system are these, that real estate
ought and can be transferred as cheap
as other poperty, and that the title
should be as easily ascertained as
other property, ana above all that il
requires security of title to promote
the prosperity OF the state and so.
cioty. No country can be prosperous
which has detective titles TO It's real
estate, because il gives insecurity To-
the home owners As opposed to this
system is the abstract method of the
transfer of real estate. Everybody
knows that the abstract system Is at.
tended with great expense. First the
abstract must be secured. One nigh,
answer that when once you get the
abstract il costs but little to keep IL
up, but what answer have they TO the.
proposition If the land should be divi-
dod- To illustrate. IL one hundred and
sixty acres Of land has boen transfer
red thirty or forty times, making so
many pages of abstract costing from
fifty cents 10 one dollar per page, and
that one hundred and sixty acres
would be divided ilRo -four parts and
sold In forty acre tracts then there
must needs lc three additional alb
stracts running back 10 the first trans
fer from the state or, as the law
would say, from under the sovereignty
Of the soil. and as this land continued
TO be divided there would be required
for each and every separate tract "a
complete abstract, 50 that in the event
the several pieces Of land should be.
come cheap The abstract would be
neglected and uncertainty of title
wOuld follow So the small purchaser
OF the cheap lot in the city and small
tract of land in the country would be
the first 10 suffer In other words,
the small home owner. wao ABOVE all
should be encouraged in the purchase
of realty with a safe and sound title.
Notwithstanding this expense, we
might continue the abstract system
without changing ii if Il were a safe
system. But it is not only expensive
and attended with great uncertainty,
but is an unsafe system. Sound bust
ness reasons should decide that IL
would be wise 10 gel rid OF system
both unsafe and expensive and subs,i-
tute therefor one both safe and atten-
ded with but little cost.
Tho method Of transfer is not very
unlike the transfer of stock In corpOr-
atlons on the books OF the company
There need be no fear in the guaran-
tee system OF the state because his
tory has shown that in no state or
country has the state ever lost one
cent by the guarantee system, which
operates very similar 70 the bank
guarantee system now In forcc In Ok
lahoma There need not bc any fear
Of the wrong person getting hold or
possession OF land that does not be-
long 10 him. The very reverse Of this
is the practical operation of this sys-
tenn. II is under the abstract system
that many persons get hold OF land
belonging to someone else, ana 3yen-
tually get in court lose the land and
all they have expended upon II. This
is the only system of law with which
| am acquainted that the poorest man
IN the state as well as the richest
can ard do unite their support. il
might be stated also that the owner
of land need not adopt this system un.
\ less he so desires II is purely yolun'
tary with the land owner, but each
1 land owner observing that the Tor
rens land can secure a loan quicker
\ and al "A lower rate of interest and that
/ Il will sell for more, and that no one
Is afraid to deal iu st by reason OF the
I conditions of title, viii cause every
man who has land TO desire to go into
| the system Nevertheless he can retalr
the abstract system if he so desires
n But. as state before he VIII not de
4 sire to DO so very long Business rea
5ors and advantages will cause hin
10 adopt the safer aud cheape
Il method Of transfer which gives great
er value 20 his land.
(Slgucd) ". II MURRAY.