The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-10
G. II. w.
DR.. Evans on Torrens System.

DR. Thomas w. Evans, of Concord Depot
addresses to the Lynchburg News the following
letter. which will be found of special interest
just in view of the attention which the
bill of MIR. Berkeley Adams on the Torrens
system is attracting:
Editor of The News;
Your timely editorial last week on the Tor
system will bear rewriting. as Hon. b, V
Adams has offered a bill in the legislature en-
dorsing the said system
The proposed rural credit system, making
government funds available for loans to farm
ers-and the concessions the late currency bill
made to national banks. to loan money real
estate, brings the issue squarey the front
in Nirginia-not only so far il concerns the
farmers but the commercial man is interested,
especially the retail merchant and dealers in
agricultural implements and vehicles of all
classes, and such being the case, the retail
merchants associations, boards Of trade and
chambers of commerce should come to the
sstance Of the landowners and farmers, said
bodies have their Legislative committees and can
act jointly to urge the passage of the bill. They
are thoroughly organized and can bring cooper
ative influence to bear on their representatives
Progressive agriculture scientific plans can
only be carried on by those with suitable
chinery, teams and fertilizers which the farm
in the dark tobacco districts have so far been
unable to get. / understand that the State
Bar association endorsed the Torrens system,
yet I hear some of our attorneys say If is a new
old plan costs.
In the space Of six months the records of
Campbell county show:
Two hundred deeds of trust recorded.
Three hundred deeds b. and S. recorded
No note being taken of the deeds of release,
deeds of gift and deeds of partition The mini
mum average cost of and abstract of title is
$20--cost deed, attestinE deed. Recording and
will average more than $3.50 Now yearly
Campbell county pays for
-Four hundred deeds of at &92 50--A11.-
000
Six hundred deeds s. and S at SIS So
$17 900
A total Of s2S,100
Upon this basis, hundred counties In the
State would be--two million. eight hundred
thousand dollars. Now add the cities and the
deeds left out of this estimate and we see
our State paying out yearly not less than six
million dollars to attorneys clerks fees and
State tax. for the transfer of ownership of land
and using land to obtain loans Every time
land changes hands the purchaser can't be GER
tain of a title without employing a lawyer to
get abstract of title--said title then is not
guaranteed by State or county-same charges
every time landowner wishes 10 borrow money
land
With the Torrens system. the state guaran-
tees title, and the cast of subsequent transfers
is minimized. The cost of court proceedings
secure the certificate OF registration under the
Terrens system simple, and Is no more thar
that attending each and every conveyance let
il be by bargain and sale deed of trust When
the landowner gets his certificate Of registra-
ton ii is good for all time.
The national and State governments arc try
ing by lectures and bulletins to educate the
farmers to organize and cooperate and Pres.-
dent Wilson has promised rural credit banks
To assist the farmers. Let's see how the farmer
will proceed to profit by these banks. He must
give personal security, gilt edge bonds or land
security. He has land. the basis Of all