Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-03-30
SPECTATOR.
-STAUN TON
THURSDAY, MARCH 80, 1897.

DetthquenI y F0rtetted Western Lands
This vexed subject, SO vitality inter-
esting to Western Virginia, and which
for the last thirty or forty years has been
one otso much unavailing aud perplex-
ing Legislation, we fatter ourselves is
now about to be forever settled. A sub.
stitnte offered by Mr.. Stuart for the bill
reported by the committee, has passed
the House of Delegates, and no doub.
will pass the Senate, which will soon
bring the whole controversy to close
Oh the only principle it could ever pos
sibly be adjusted. The bill provides
that the owners Of Delinquent and for.
teIted lands for the non-pay ment of taxes
shall be allowed to redeem them by paw.
ing all arrearages Of taxes with damages
at the rate Of ten per centu;n per annum,
at any time before the 18th Of January
next. The lands which are not redeem.
I'd by that time are to be sold tor the
benefit of the Literary Fund. For the
purpose of effecting the sale of the
lands. the bill provides that the Circuit
Superior Court Of Law and Chancery for
each county west Of the Blue Ridge
shall, at its next fall term. appoint
commissioner Of Delinquent lands. whose
duty it shall be to ascertain the quantity
of forfeited land in his county-its local
situation-probable value. and as far as
practicable. the condition of the title
aud report the same TO the next term of
the Court by which he is appointed.
Upon the return Of this report. the Court
is empowered to direct all the surveys
and divisions. &c. which may be neces.
sary to effect an advantageous sale OF the
lands; and when that is done, il is the
duty OF the Court 10 direct the Commits.
sioner to sell the lands in convenient
tracts, requiring one fourth Of the pur-
chase money i'll hand, and the residue in
twelve months, to be secured by bond
with approved security. An account of
these sales is to be returned to the Court
and also to the Auditor Of Public Ac.
counts, and the bonds are to be deposited
In the Clerks office of the Superior
Court, and to have the force of iudg.
ments. In case of failure TO pay them,
execution can be awarded upon ten
days notice. The sales are to be made
at the Court house of the county in
winch the Lands are situated, at the Au.
gust term of the County Courts, in the
year 1888, and are to be conducted on
the same principles and under the same
restrictions as other sales made by
commissioner acting under the authority
OF decree of the Chahcery Court, aad
the Attorney for the Commonwealth is
to represent the interest of the pubic
in all the stages Of the proceeding. The
Commissioner is to be allowed two dol
lars per diem whilst engaged in making
his examinations and report in relation
TO the quantity, value, situation and ii.
tie of the lands. and he is to take an
oath faithfully to discharge all The duties
OF his office, and to pay over all the mo-
ney he may collect, to the order of his
Court.
The bill farther provides that persons
III the occupancy of lands under bona
tide grant from the government, obtain.
ed without notice of any pre-existing
right, are not to be disturbed in their
possession. This provision may in some
instances benefit the fraudulent, but it is
the only way in which the question can
be conclusively settled.