The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-08-03
STATE LAND OFFICE
WILCOX INTO THE
LANDS ADJUDICATED
Registrar Grace to Take up
Matter in Order to
Clear Titles
MANY SALES DATE
FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS
Figured that Louisiana's
Treasury Will be Enrich
ened by Process

A dispatch from Baton Rouge Of
date Friday, July 2S, brings infor-
nation that the present status of
lands adjudicated to the state at de-
linquent tax sale during the past for
ty years, that is to say, since 1880,
will be looked into by Registrar Of
he Land Office Fred ]. Grace. who
has already taken up the work, start
ing at the parish of Caddo. The Off
cial will work Systematically in his
effort to clear up the title of such
property, much Of which, it is esti-
mated. is still in private hands, the
present owners oblivious of the fact
that that their title to possession is
not altogether clear.
It is impossible to even estimate
the amount and the value of property
which the state has undoubted claim
because Of he legal adjudication, and
It is thought that when the work is
complete an avenue will be open for
the recouping Of financial losses or
expenditures that will materially aid
the tiding of the ship Of government
through the rough seas of CONNER
cial depression.
The dispatch states further that
many property owners, knowing that
there is a cloud on the title Of their
lands due to former adjudication, are
making inquiry into the status OF
their property and on learning the
amount resting against them are pay
ing up the score and thus once again
brushing aside such clouds and getting
an unquestioned title to the property
which, though really vested in the
state, is still assessed against them.
1t has been the custom for many
years for a certain cless of specula-
tors to bid in property at the sheriff
sale for delinquent taxes and within
the twelve-month period giving public
notice, through publication in news
paper, addressed to the owner of re-
cord that his property had been
bought in at the said sale and that
he could redeem said property by
paying all costs incurred and the
penalty of twenty per cent allowed by
law
However, there has been consld-
cradle amount of property that no
one bid in at these sales and conse-
ouently it was adjudicated to the state
though the owner of record still re-
NAMED in possession. In the course
of time he quite forgot or overlooked
the fact that he failed to pay his tax
for a past year and never realizes
that his title to possession rests under
a cloud even though he has paid taxes
for all subsequent years.
In this connection it is stated it
would be wise for every landowner
to investigate the title OF his proper
ty and see if said property was ever
adjudfcated to the state within the
period named. Perhaps the present
owner has met all legal obligations
due the state or parish and is oblivi-
Gus of the fact that some previous
owner failed to meet the taxes and
the property was adjudicated to the
state. This fact would create flaw
in his title which he would have no
knowledge of but might bring him con-
siderable trouble later on.
The action on the part of the state
land office is opportune and should re-
suit in quite a bit of good for the
people and at the same time add much
money to the state treasury by the
collection of taxes due and unpaid
for some previous years.