The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-20
Pledge Your Candidate to the Torrens
System

thoroughly aroused to the Importance of this use
full reform and every candidate for the next Gen.
eral Assembly in each State should be pledged
to the support of the principle While our Mis-
sissppi and Louisiana readers are not now in
the midst of legislative campaigns It is none too
early for farmers in these States to join their
brother farmers elsewhere in carrying a cam
paign of education in behalf of the Torrens Sys-
TEN. And for the benefit of our readers who do
not fully understand it. brief explanation of the
whole matter may not be out OF order.
AS 1t is now every time piece of property is
transferred some lawyer must examine into the
legality of the title. Old Notwithstanding back
sometimes for hundreds of years-must be search
ed at great labor and expense; 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 investigation OF the same thing
this perpetual marching backward and forward
over the same ground with no purpose save that
OF supporting lawyers who might better serve
their fellows In some other way-instead Of all
this. we say. the Torrens System proposes that
the State shall examine the title once for ALL
guarantee IL and register it-and henceforward
1t may be transferred as easily share OF stock
In corporation, or a bond issued by State or
municipality. The original cost OF getting Tor
deed will be little, IL any. more than the
present cost of once investigating the title and
with the Torrens deed secured. land titles
may be transferred at from one-fourth to one
tenth the present expense and with immeasurably
less worry and uncertainty.
At present, moreover. deed Is only n register
cd certificate of claim the State does not guaran-
tee your right to the property described. and
even after the lawyers have pronounced the title
under the Torrens System. on the other hand. Is
an absolute guarantee from the State OF your
right to the property mentioned.
lawyer said to us the other day that he knew
pieces of property several 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 fur
Their investigation and his property easily nego
table as n United States registered bond.
Easily negotiable, say-and right here Is
one single advantage OF the Torrens System that
ought to insure Its adoption even IL 1t had no
other attractions. AS things now, land
which should be the finest OF all securities-by
OF the uncertainty OF titles and the cost OF
making inquiries. is in no such favor with the
banker and money-lender as its value justifes;
the farmer. in other words. is at great disad-
vantage in borrowing money compared with
the city business man. But with the Torrens
System not even registered Government bond
would be attractive to the bank as Land would
be-because the Torrens deed would be as much
guaranteed by the Government the bond 1t.
SELF while Nature, having made land far more
indestructble than governments, would better
guarantee the safety of the deed. This would
not only make 1t easier for the landowner to Dor
row money, but II would also certainly increase
the market value OF all farm property.
In the face Of these advantages, 1t Is singular
that the Torrens System has not already beer
adopted in every State in the Union-apparentl!