The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-20

certainty.
The insufficiency of the evidence
was pointed out by Mr.. Litchford.
ghosts not only haunt, but frequent
" take actual possession OF lalldS
transferred to their detriment." He
the uncertainty Of identity,
armies of John Smiths. the doubt
of marriages. divorces. rights OF
DOVER. Of adverse possession, of dan
gers of impeached wills, Of boundaries
and of eminent domain. reversal OF
court DEGREES and them all.
These We're but a few of the in
terminable lot Of difficulties that at
tend the use Of the best securities in
obtaining II Mr.. Ltchford
pointed out the fact that n State
does nOt guarantee the title OF prop
ertv even when ii sells it for taxes
These evils result in curtailment Of
and insecurity Of titles. the uses Of
real estate are lesSened. values are
and unnecessary burdens are
imposed on real estate and the large
body. the small owners, suffer most.
TOgrene System a Success.
Mr.. Litcbford pointed out the sue
cesses OF the Torrens system in Aus
tralia. England. Germany. Denmark.
Sweden. Norway. Russia. the states of
Illinois, Minnesota, oregon, Colorado.
ana has been mentioned. he declared,
by the Federal government III the
Philippines. Hawaii and Porti Rico.
Tho title is examined once Offlcial-
ly' Mr.. Iitcilford said, and confirm
ca BY order OF the court. That cuts
out the endless examination OF titles
and the State gives is guarantee,
standing as an immense barrier De
tween the owner Of the property and
all possible HARM Mr.. LitchfOrd
carried his idea out splendidly, showing
the probability of an estates titular
examination scores of times br diff
ferent lawyers. a mistake Of whom
WOuld result in his own estates re
sDonsibllity.
You can deal under the Torrens
system with thu" certificate of the
states officer, as freely as with a
certificate exactly what the title is.
The state guarantees the work Of its
examiners and sou hold an unques-
toned certificate of ownership to your
property"
Mr.. Litchford closed by showing
the advantage of a confidential trans
action, one which is kept 50 by rea-
son Of the fact that he executes nc
mortgage uDo his property. a sus-
DiciOus transaction often and show
AiAH ~
be so he can use his real property
like his stocks or bonds" he said.
j. c.. Little.
MIR. Little spoke to the legal phase
Of the question. giving the story OF
Robert TOrrens, who devised a scheme
of land title registrations. based upoI
the merchants and shippers act. HI
became a register of deeds and saw
the confusion attending the registra.
ton of and titles.
Mr.. Little gave a very interesting
story of the land transfers. how tn,
old timers took a tuft or a clod ant
handed it to the purchaser as a sym
Dol purely. Various minor change
were cited. but for the most part
he declared there had been very lit
tie advance in the land title registra
ton. These laws are a%ntiQuate'
now and ought to be changed immed
lately"
Mr.. Little showed the first NOV
towards the Torrens system in thi
country. A is always the cas-
when new laws are attempted" MI
Little said. the cOnstitutiOnaIity O
the act was attacked. This law pro
vided that the register Of deeds wa
to give his certificate of the c%learnes
OF title. this certificate to be guaran
teed by the state. This law went t
Tie supreme court OF II In
first decision was against it. but tn
state has since adopted it. as hav
Massachusetts,. Minnesota and man
other states"
Mr.. Little quoted B.. H. Griswal(
a noted Baltimore banker. as show
ing the cumbersomeness Of the pres
emf system. When a man goes t
borrow money IN his realty. Mr.. Littl
said. by way Of quotation, he en-
ployes a lawyer. who is asked to huI
ry IN the examination of the It'll,
II doesn't know that it may take
week. Mr.. Little said. land whe
! completed the bank will not let 70
nave the money until it's lawyer ha
passed upon the validity of title. An
II there is a lawyer here, l believe h
: Will agree with me that no lawye
no matter what is the evidence
the case. can ever absolutely guarar
: tee a title. He cannot know whe
S there may be a forgery Of deeds, {
s an unheard of heir. who may come
t piague n clearness Of such title"
MIR. Little showed the workine