CHAP. 138.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 650, 653 654,
656, and 660 of the code of Virginia, in relation to the sale o
ao returned delinquent for the non-payment of taxes and
evies.

Approved February 28, 1890.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That sections six hundred and fifty, six hundred and fifty-
three, six hundred and fifty-four, six hundred and fifty-
six, and six hundred and sixty of the code of Virginia be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§650. The owner of any such real estate so sold, his
heirs or assigns, or any person having the right to charge
such real estate with a debt, may redeem the same by pay-
ing to the purchaser, his heirs or assigns, within one year
from the recordation of the report of the surveyor provided for
by sections six hundred and fifty-three and siz hundred and
fifty-four, the whole amount paid by said purchaser, and
any such additional taxes, levies, costs, and charges as
may have been paid by him since the sale, with interest
at 81x per centum per annum on the amount so paid. Upon
exhibition to the clerk of the court in which the sale of
the land was confirmed of the receipt of the purchaser of
the redemption money thus paid him, the clerk shall note
the redemption on the list of lands sold for taxes to others
than the commonwealth, and certify the fact of such
redemption to the auditor of public accounts, and to the
commissioner of the revenue of his county or city.

$653. The purchaser of a part of any tract or lot of land
so sold, his heirs or assigns, shall, after the confirmation of
such sale, have the quantity purchased surveyed and laid
off at his expense by the surveyor of the county, if it be
in a county or a town therein; if it be within the corpo-
rate limits of any city, by the surveyor of such city; or
where there is no surveyor of such county or city, then by
some person to be appointed by the court of the county or
city for that purpose. The said survey to commence on
either of the lines of the tract or lot, at the option of the
purchaser, his heirs or assigns, 80 as not to include the
improvements on the same if it can be avoided, and to be
in one body, the length whereof will not be more than
double the breadth, where that is practicable. But before
eaking said survey such purchaser, his heirs or assigns, shall
ive at least ten days’ notice in writing of the time of making
he aame to the owner, tenant, or other person found in posses-
ion and occupation of such tract or lot of land; if no person
e found in such possession and occupation, then like notice
hall be giren to the owner of such tract or lot of land, his heirs
Tr assigns, if known to such purchaser, his heirs or assigns, and
o be found within the county or city wherein said tract or
ot of land 1s situated ; if no such owner is known as aforesaid,
ir if known cannot be found within such county or city, then,
mn affidavit of such fact by the purchaser, his heirs or asssigns,
rr an agent of either, notice of the time of making such survey
hall be published once a week for four successive weeks in some
newspaper published in such county or city, or uf there be no
newspaper published in such county or city, said notice shall be
posted at the front door of the court-house of such county or
“ity, on the first day of some term of a county or corporation
rourt thereof, four weeks prior to the time of making such sur-
rey. A plat and certificate of the survey shall be returned
to the court of the county or city, and along therewith shall
alxo be returned the evidence of the service of the notice afore-
xard. or the affidavit aforesaid, as the case may be ; and if the
court, on examination, finds that notice has been given as
hereinbefore required, and that said plat and certificate have
been made in conformity with this section, it shall order
said plat and certificate to be recorded.

&§654. When an entire tract or lot of land is sold the
purchaser, his heirs or assigns, at his expense, shall have
a report made to the court of the county or city by such
surveyor or other person as is provided for in the preceding
section, specifying the metes and bounds of the land sold,
the names of the owners of the adjoining lands or lots,
and giving such further description of the land sold as
will identify the same. But no such report shall be made
until the purchaser, bis heirs or assigns, shall have first given
notice ax is provided for in the preceding section, evidence of the
serrice of which notice shall be returned with said report. And
the county or corporation court, if satisfied that such notice has
been given ax ix required by the preceding section, shall order
such report to be recorded, unless it see some objection to
the same. The notice required by this and the preceding sec-
tion shall be executed only by the sheriff of the county or ser-
yeant of the city, or a lawful deputy of either, or uf there be no
auch sheriff or sergeant, or tf such sheriff or sergeant be inter-
exted in the purchase, then by any constable of such county or
rvty.

§656. Where the clerk is a purchaser the deed for the
land purchased by him shall be executed by a commis-
sioner appointed by the cownty court of the county or cir-
cuit or corporation court of the corporation wherein the
land is situated.
$660. If no such deed be made under this chapter withi
one year after the expiration of said two years, the forme
owner, his heirs or assigns, may, after such year and befor
such deed is made, redeem the land by paying such amount
with such additional taxes and levies and such interest a
is mentioned in section six hundred and fifty, togethe
with the costs of the notice and survey or report (ant
interest thereon), if any has been made.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.