Imperial Valley press., 1922-05-03
TO
SUPPORT
BONDS
Resolutions Adopted Set
Forth Need of New
Court House
RECORDS IN DANGER
Land Titles Of Imperial
County Unprotected
From Fire

Following an exhaustive discussion
of the proposition to Imperial county
for the construction of new courthouse,
the FL Centre Realty Board, at its reg
ular weekly meeting last night, voted
unanimously approval Of set Of reso-
buttons endorsing the proposition, and
pledging the support Of the board mem.
bers in the bond election campaign.
The resolutions adopted by the realtors
recite that Gin the present courthouse
the clerk g records Of every legal pro-
ceeding had in the county from its be.
ginning, together with numerous rec.
ords transferred from San Diego county
at the time Of the formation Of 4mper.
ial dOunty ere kept.
cit houses not only the complete
files Of every criminal and civil matter,
but the records Of all condemnation
suits, quiet title proceedings, matters
involving title to county real property
and public roads; and, particularly,
probate proceedings, in which are found
the records of the transfer of all prop
erty, both real and personal, of all de.
| ceased persons in the county since its
! formation.
"The clerk also is custodian Of the
minutes VI thc COuTL anu III tDc OOdItk
of supervisors, vital statistics showing
the record Of all marriages, divorces,
births and deaths, as well as numerous
other important records and documents,
such as corporation records, bonds,
wills, exhibits in civil suits, etc.
Valuable Records Unprotected
"The clerk g office consists Of ono
large room, where all the records must
be kept together, and where there is
serious danger Of confusion and mixing
of important papers. His only protec-
tion from fire or theft is small vault,
which is sufficient for nothing more
than minutes Of the court, Judgment
books, exhibits and few miscellaneous
matters. Two safes are kept by the
clerk in the main room. At least three
fourth Of the valuable records in this
main office have positively no protec.
tion from fire, and little protection
against theft or other molestation.
''The chambers of the board of sup.
ervisors are separated from the clerk 8
office by wooden rail, approximately
two feet from the floor, and their
records have the same lack of protec-
tion as those of the clerk.
''The recorder has in his office prac.
tically every record affecting the title
to real property in Imperial county
and there is no piece Of real property
in Imperial county which is not de.
pendent on some record in the record.
RS office for its title All the maps
and plats Of towns and subdivisions are
kept there. The size, Dimensions and
measurements of lots and tracts Of land
al nt n mil nI nd L.
maps. The recorder has one vault Of
more or less questionable value. This
vault, at the present time, is so filled
with records that it is almost imbossi-
bic for persons to get in there to work.
and a great many Of the .valuable rec
ords are necessarily kept outsidel the
vault, and, Of course, unprotectedy
Heavy Loss Invited
1.-THE auditor 8 office consists Of one
large room and small vault Of Imore
or less questionable value. In} this
vault are kept the tax rolls, records of
tax sales, paid warrants and vouchers
OF every description; and the larger
part Of his office is filled with RECORDS.
books, furniture and equipment, with.
out any protection whatever.
1.-The assessor has an exceptionally
fine set of maps, plats and field notes.
This record has taken years to compile
at great expense. 1t is conserve alive
ly estimated that it would cost not less
than $5o,00O, to duplicate it and it is
wholly without protection Of any kind.
1.-THE tax collectors office is sep
arated from the assessor g by an mag
mary line. The whole records Of as
sessment and collection Of taxes are
without protection, except at night,
when certain of the books are labor
iously moved into the auditors vault.
"The county surveyor and supeein-
tendent of schools, are housed in the
old Jail building, which at the best II
only makeshift, without convenience
or protection for their records,
"The treasurer 3 quarters are cramp-
ed and not sufficient in size to proper
ly handle tho county business and the
protection while the best in tho court
house is questionable.
"The court room Of department q is
directly over the street and the p0lso Of
passing cars oftan m akea n mArsssax xv