The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-16
AN ACT

No. 54o.) AN ACT o4. sos. Granting to the trustees of the Insane Hospital of the State of Alabama all swamp and overfiowed lands which were granted to said State by act of Sept. 2s. 1850 and to provide for the sale of said lands by said trustees and to authorize said trustees to settle disputes as to title to such of ssidf lands as have heretofore been illSe ly sold and to provide for the dis tion of the funds arising from q sales and settlements. Whereas, by act approved Jan. 30, 1875 the procee# of the sale of all swamp and oveY flowed lands granted to the State ofN Alabama, and other. States under act of September 2S, 1850, were appropriat- cd for the purpose of furnishing ac- commodations for the idiotic and indi- gent insane of the State of Alabama. and whereas there are certain of said lands remaining unsold, and whereas there are disputes as to the legality of certain alleged sales of said lands. Now therefore be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama:
 Section l. That all of said lands which are now or may hereafter be owned by the State, of Alabama to which there are no adverse claims be and the same are nereby granted to the Trustees of the Alabama Insane Hospitals to be sold or disposed of by such trustees under and by such rules and regulations as they may see fit to adopt.
 Sec. g. That whenever called upon by said Trustees, the Governor shall cause patents to be issued to said Trustees to said lands in order that those purchas- Ing said lands from Said Trustees shall have perfect claim to title to same. That to all lands sold under the first section of this bill, the Governor shall cause patents to be issued to said Trus- tees and said Trustees shall in turn con- vey same to such purchasers
 Sec 3. That all persons claiming title to any swamp and overfiowed lands in tho State under any alleged purchase from It by themselves, or their predecessors in title. may submit claims therefor to said Trustees of the Alabama Insane Hos- pital. together with such evidence of such purchase and with the present interest of the claimant therein as such claimant may see fit. whereupon it shall be the duty of said Trustees to examine into said alleged title and if it be found that the State has parted with its title to any of such land in a legal and effective way, the Trustees shall so determine and certify to the Governor, but if the Trus- tees shall find that the State has not poi tSu III d legal UT eHeCtlVe way Wlt0 the title to any such lands, but that any consideration of equity or justice requires a settlement with the purchaser or his successor in title, they shall have the power to settle and adjust the said title upon such terms as to the payment of further consideration or otherwise, as they may think right; upon such ad- tustment they chall so certify to the Gov ernor. upon receipt of certificates as above the Governor shall cause patents to issue to the claimant under the seal of the State to the lands covered by such certi- 1cate, and shall vest a fee simple title in the grantee named in such patent.
 Sec. 1. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to authorize the said Trus- tees to interfere with or disturb the title and possession of the purchaser or pre- sent owner of any such swamp and over- flowed lands which were sold prior to the passage of the act approved Februa- ry 12, 1879, and the sales of which were confirmed by said act
 Approved October 10, 1908.
 Official.
 J. THOS. HEFLIN.
 Secretary of State