Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-10
Vital Records Exnosed to Loss.

When n Washingtonian files prop
erty deed for record with the Recorder
of Deeds he iutrusts a paper OF great
value TO a hazardous condition. Until
that deed is copied in a folio which Is
the permanent record OF a real estate
transfer and formal proof of owner
ship. it is exposed 70 destruction or
Office of the Recorder OF Deeds, due
solely To lack of provision for proper
quarters and clerical service, a period
OF from twelve TO fifteen months must
elapse before the deed is copied
y year or more of risk of destruction
or displacement. with the consequence
of serious confusion in title,
In other cities the time required for
the copying and return of deeds
ranges from five days in Chicago TO
ninety days in certain boroughs Of
Greater New York. Outside Of those
boroughs. two months Is the maxi
mum. that being in Boston. Disre-
garding Boston, the average is six
diiatory New York boroughs, the aver
age is twenty eight days.
For many years efforts have been
made to get better housing for the
Recorder of Deeds. The office is not
only f-supporting, but earns profit.
The fees exceed the cost of administra-
ton. The property owners, whose
deeds are filed for record and are ex-
posed TO loss and disarrangement, sup
port the establishment and enable II
to turn in an annual surplus. Since
1893 that surplus has amounted to
half q rniIlion dollars. Last year the
earnings" Of the office were $4,000,
or twice the amount paid for the rent
Of inadequate quarters.
The highest praise is given by all
who have to do with the office of
Recorder of Deeds for the efficiency
with which the place is managed in
the circumstances. 1t is recognized
that the conditions that make for the
extra ordinary delay in the copying OF
the papers are due not TO the exec
utive officials. but to the lack of proper
quarters and facilities.
Here in the Capital of the country
one Of the vitality important public
functions is kept crippled by lack OF
suitable provisions that elsewhere are
freely made, without regard to cost.
The Recorder of Deeds has been moved
A bout, q tenant at will in public and
private buildings. Only a few years
ago freproof filing cases were install
ed. long after they became a common
place in other establishments.
II is a merciful Gispensation Of
Providence thar an irreparable loss
has not occurred here, through fire or
building collapse, destroying docu-
ments that could never be fully re-
placed and whose loss would involve
confusion lasting for many years re-
garding the ownership of property. II
has been recently pointed out that
owing to the destruction Of property
records in the Chicago fire special
courts had to be established to
straighten out tangles, and that the
questions involved were not all deter
ralned for many years. Such a loss
may befall this city at any time.
An extraordinary effort should be
made to correct this condition. Pro
vision should be made at once for a
new building, designed for security In
all circumstances, planned for growth
equipped with every modern facility
for the speedy ira nsaction of business
and the administrative force maintain
ed at a size TO enable Washington
after catching up with the arrears due
to inadequate housing for many years
to establish the lowest period Of time
in the copying of records OF any Amer
lean city.