Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-08-26
THE ToRRENs SYSTEM.
II Will Be a Great Economy to Owners
Of Real Estate

of Real Estate.
We are glad to see that the South
Carolina Farmers Union has Joined
the North Carolina Farmers Union in
| registering land titles. Southern far
mers by the thousands are getting
| thoroughly aroused to the Importance
Of this useful reform, and every cam
didate for the next general assembly
in each state should be pledged to the
support Of the principle. And for the
benefit Of our readers who do not full
ly understand it, brief explanation Of
the whole matter may not be out Of
order.
AS 1t is now, every time a piece Of
property Is transferred some lawyer
must examine into the legality of the
title. Old records-running back
sometimes for hundreds Of years-must
be searched at great labor and ex-
pense; and the next time the property
is sold, and the next and the next, the
same work must be done over again,
and other big lawyers fees paid.
Now, the Torrens system proposes
that instead Of this perennial investi-
cation Of the same thing, this perpet-
ual marching backward and forward
over the same ground with no pur-
pose save that Of supporting lawyers
who might better serve their fellows
in some other way-instead Of ell this,
we say, the Torrens system proposes
that the state shall examine the title
once for all, guarantee 1t and register
it-and henceforward 1t may be trans
ferred as easily as share Of stock in
a corporation, or bond issue by state
II any, more than the present cost Of
getting a Torrens deed will be little.
IL any, more than the present cost Of
once investigating the title. and with.
the Torrens deed once secured, land
[ es may be transferred at from one
fourth to one-tenth the present ex-
pense and with immeasuraDly less
worry and uncertainty.
At present, moreover, a deed Is only
a registered certificate Of claim; the
state does not guarantee your right to
the property described, and even after
the lawyers have pronounced the title
sound, you cannot be absolutely sure. A
deed under the Torrens system, on the
other hand, is an absolute guarantee
from the state Of your right 20 the
property mentioned.
A lawyer said to us the other day
that he knew pieces Of property sew
eral times transferred on which at
least one-fourth the total value had
been spent for investigating the title
and the next time the property Is
sold, the same ground will probably
be gone over again. Under the Tor
rens system, at fraction Of this cost,
the owner would have a guaranteed
title requiring no further investigation
and his property as easily negotiable
as United States registered bond.
Easily negotiable, we say-and
right here is one single advantage of
the Torrens system that ought to in
sure its adoption even IL II had no
other attractions. AS things are now,
land-which should be the finest Of
all securities-by reason Of the un-
certainty Of titles and the cost Of maxi
ing inquiries, is In no such favor with
the banker and money-lender as its
value justifies; the farmer, In other
words, Is at great disadvantage in
borrowing money as compared with
the city business man. But with the
Torrens system not even a registered
government bond would be as attrac-
tive to the bank as land would be-
because the Torrens deed would be as
much guaranteed by the government
as the bond itself, while nature, hav-
ing made land far more indestructi-
BILE than governments, would better
guarantee the safety Of the deed. This
would not only make 1t easier for the
landowner 10 DOTTOW money, Dul IL
would also certainly increase the mar
ket value of all farm property.
In the face Of these advantages, 1t
Is singular that the Torrens system
has not already been adopted in every
state in the Union-apparently sin
gular at least, until we recall the fact
that the large majority Of our legis-
lators are lawyers, and large ma
jority of these lawyers fatten on the
abuses Of the preesnt system. In the
nature Of things they cannot be ex-
pected to bring about a reform there
fore until a strong. unmistakable de-
mand comes up from the people them
selves. Until such a demand does
come, the doom of the Terrens system
must be sealed whenever a lawyer
legislator whispers to his fellows in
the language Of Demetrius, the silver
smith: "Sir, ye know that by this
craft we have our wealth."
The demand must come from the
farmers, and we appeal to them to
pledge every candidate for the legis-
lature upon this important matter.
Give us the Torrens system. AS the
Progressive Farmer and Gazette was
the first paper in the southern states
to champion and advertise the plan.
we are naturally gratified at its rapid
and unceasing march to ultimate VIC
Farmer.