162 The Farmer's Business Handbook 



from other counties, mortgages, dower rights, 

 pending actions or litigations, taxes, mechanics' 

 liens, homestead exemptions, and, in fact, every 

 kind of lien or encumbrance affecting in the 

 slightest degree absolute and perfect title to the 

 property. 



There are few abstracts made where some 

 flaw is not found, though many are easily cor- 

 rected at the time; whereas if time were allowed 

 to run on without knowledge it might be im- 

 possible to make the correction, or it might, at 

 least, entail serious trouble, with possible costly 

 and vexatious litigation. In fact, much of the 

 litigation in this country has arisen from neglect 

 of this sort, where a few dollars paid to an 

 attorney at the start would have saved hundreds 

 of dollars in the end. 



The matter of always requiring an abstract is 

 not a question of lack of confidence or mistrust. 

 The most honorable man in the world may unwit- 

 tingly sell you property upon a worthless title. 

 He bought it in the same way. Then, later on 

 when you find it out it may be, by reason of 

 death or accident or other cause, a very trouble- 

 some and costly thing to remedy; whereas, if 

 you had demanded an abstract it might have been 

 arranged in an hour at the time. An abstract, 

 therefore, is not so much to guard against a 

 man's dishonesty as against his carelessness. 



