The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-14


Buchanan" appears. This cditoria
states IN substance that fraud is ap
parent In the land assessments re-
turned from Buchanan county; thai
some time ago the acreage of Buchanan
Was listed at 100000. in 1905 1T .,
a5G,232, and in 1910 NJ 67T,960 acres
that Auditor Donohoc says. II his re.
port. that figures from Buchanan coun-
~ relative to real estate are taken from
1910 iand books, because the land
books for Buchanan county for 1911
contain assessments of large tracts
of land which nave no existence: In
fact: therefore, to use these ligurcs IN
the table would be misleading" and
that the land books of Buchanan coun-
~ for the year 1907 were so confused
as to show an acreage OF almost one
twelfth the total area of the whole
State. The editorial further states
that this is largely tho result of great
fraud upon capitalists In the great
cities OF the country who were sold
large tracts of mineral land which
did not exist. Fake titles were sold
outside of the state. resulting in Great
Ing a class OF claimants for land that
did not exist. who were assessed bs
the commissioners OF the revenue
none the less. so tina, they might get
their double fee when they were en-
titled 10 but i single fee
This is a grave charge not only
against the commissioners of tho Rcv-
cnuH. but against the people OF this
county and one, it seems to the
writer. that should not have been made
by one not acquainted with the true
state Of facts. However. through
fairness, the writer Will state that no
doubt he author of the editorial was
Warranted in writing the same. as the
editorial seems To be supported by
Auditor Donohuc's report That Audi
tor Donohoc and the Attorney General
were acquainted with The true state
OF facts will more fully appear later:
ANA IL VIII be for the public Ia Judge
whether or not auditor Donohoc was
Warranted in making the report.
History of the titles.
In order that the public may thor
oushly understand The situation il is
necessary 10 set out a brief history OF
the tltics in this county. The COM
inonwcnlth of Virginia originally is
sued large grants covering the great
or part OF what is now Buchanan coun.
~, These, grants were practically
abandoned by those to whom they wcro
ISSUED; that is. the parties 10 whom
these large grants were Issued, or those
claiming under them. failed to exercise
the rights OF ownership over the Iand
or TO pay taxes on the same Later
on settlers came into this part OF the
State, and, instead of purchasing the
iand from the owners OF the large
grants. obtained junior grants or
court rights" for tho particular tracts
Of land they wanted Tho settlers a
once located on the land Tor wnicn
they had obtained junior grant or
court right" and commenced i'm an
humble way. and as best they could
10 make a living by tillng the soil
Aftcr II was discovered that practically
the whole country was undcrlaid with
iich deposits OF coal. and that the tim
Der was exceptionally fine. the owners
of the large surveys bccamc Interested
ana have been trying, anG still are try
ing, TO hold the land under the orisi-
nal grants Hence II will he seen ;hat
ihcre arc two chains of title both
emanating from the Commonwealth. to
practically every foot Of land in this
county outside of what is known as
the "Wardcr survey"
Moreover, 1t will be found that the
same conditions exist in numerous
counties in West Virginia and Ken
lucky tho State of Virginia havinr
issued large grants covering this ter
ritory prior to tho formation Of these
States.
4 Concrete Gaze
In the year 1895 the Commonw cal IN
o. virginia granted TO Smith and
Banks 100000 acres of land. The
greater part of this land lies in VIVA;
is now Buchanan county. This ,raot
OF land passed through succession OF
conreyances to Frederick Pearson
From 1876 TO 1905 taxes were assessed
against it in the name of Pearson. In
the year 1856 none OF tho taxes hav-
Ing been paid. the land was sold and
bought in bM the State. and tho title
held By it.su!-jcct TO the right of re.
dcnpton, until February II. 1905
when II was conveyed TO The Bucha1iar
Company. corporation, by the clerk
OF Buchanan county By tax deed al
that date.
II appears from tho tax decd that IN,
land was duly advertised for palc nm,
sod 10 the state in 1856, no ;ttenp,
hcinE made To redeem 1t. that it. wa.
held by tho stat" until .Iuly ls l9oo
when one c. w. Tchault took The neces
"ary stops to purchase II from tn,
Stale. This statute required notice /,
the delinquent owners, saved ,hct
right Of redemption for four month,
utter notice, and this notice is ALLEGED
10 nave been given by publication in ,
local newspaper. Tho alleged nwmer,
sEain failing to appear or offer o,
stcmpt to redeem the taxes from
;ST6 10 1905. inclusive. amounting :,
soS'o9o.9o. were paid and the tax dee,
executed TO The Buchanan COMPANY
corporation. as assignee OF Toba ult
During all Of this time every foo
OF land covered by the 200, OOo-acr,
grant 10 Smith and Banks lying In thi
county was claimed by citizens unde
Junior grants and court rights" m,
ctt'zens, OF course. during all OF thi
GAINED by them. Thus II viii he sec,
mat mat part OF the Smith ana Bank,
2VV.epo-acre grant lying In this coun
" was assessed for taxes twice. Fire
in The name of the owner OF tho sal,
grant. ana. second. in the name Of IN
citizens who were il possession of m
Identical land under junior patents an,
court rights" This is still true.
This is just one OF many Instance
Is 'wo-th!rds Of the county is covcrc
ny these o!n grains Therefore. II