The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-10
COPING LAND GRANTS.
An Arduous Task Now Being Done by
West Virginia Authorities

About two years ago the state of West
State for the delivery of certain books
and records in regard to the lands in
the State of West Virginia. subsequently,
the Legislature Of this State enacted a
law I'm compliance with the request of the
neighboring State. This act also per-
mits the Register OF the Land Office to
have copies Of land grants made at the
expense Of the State of West Virginia.
1nasmuch as the latter State, having
been originally part Of Virginia, desires
all the titles to its lands from those land
grants. ii has been deemed desirable to
the people of West Virginia to have
copies OF these grants made to be kept
by them as their own records.
The law in question passed during the
last session Of the Legislature, contains
the following provisions:
''Be IL enacted by the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia, That the Auditor Of
Public Accounts shall deliver TO any per-
son whom the Executive of the State
shall certify to him to be officially APP
pointed by the State OF West Virginia
TO- receive the same. all the books and
reports of the commissioners Of the
revenue in which lands were assessed
State Of West Virginia, and also the
sherifs delinquent tax lists and the
reports Of sales by the sheriffs of lands
delinquent for taxes. and all evidence
Of the redemption Of any such lands from
the time of the formation Of such county
to the year 1853, or to the time any such
county became one of the counties of
West Virginia. and if any county now
in the State of West Virginia was taken
in whole or I'm part from any coun-
ty now remaining i'm Virginia, so
that the commissioner land books Of
such county contain the assessments
of lands with taxes up to the formation
of any such county, part Of which lands
are now in the State of West Virginia.
the Auditor shall cause copies thereof
to be made under his supervision and
direction, upon such terms as may be
agreed upon by him and the agent of
the State Of West Virginia. who may
be appointed for that purpose at the
expense of the State of West Virginia,
which copies shall be certified and sub
scribed by said Auditor, who shall thereto
affix his seal of office.
"Be It further enacted, That the Regis
ter OF the Land Office shall cause to be
copied at the expense Of the State Of
West Virginia. under his supervision and
direction on such terms as may be agreed
upon between him and the agent of the
State of West Virginia, who may be
appointed for that purpose, all surveys
and patents of lands now lying In any
Of the counties in the State OF West
Virginia which are recorded in the office
OF the Register Of the Land Office OF
this State which copies, when made
shall be certified and subscribed by the
said Register, who shall thereto afilx his
seal OF Office"
Dr. NJ. II. Dyer, Of Charleston. w. Va.
who has been appointed agent Of the
State of West Virginia. has been here
all this week, and under his supervision
the copies are being made by i've clerks
in the Hall OF the House Of Delegates
There are In all about 1900 land grants
covering the whole area Of West Virginia,
which will have to be copied, ana IL
will take several months before the work
will be completed.