Chap. 550.—An ACT to provide for the copying and preserving
the old records ofcertain counties in the state of Virginia, and to
make an appropriation therefor.

Approved March 1, 1892.

Whereas the records of many of the old counties dating
back to colonial times are more or less complete, and
full of historical matter referring and relating to the gen-
eral history of the state of Virginia, and without doubt if
carefully examined in convenient form would throw im-
portant light on its early colonial history; and the older
volumes, on account of great age and the constant handling
incident to their use are being destroyed, and if not copied
at an early day will be irrevocably lost, and are at present
lodged in the clerk’s offices of said counties, which are
buildings not fire-proof, and the chance of fire is therefore
a constant menace to their safety; and for the better pre-
servation of such books and records copies should be in
the library of the state; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That the secretary of the commonwealth be, and is here-
by, authorized, empowered, and directed to order the copy-
ing of all volumes of the county records of all counties
in the state dating prior to seventeen hundred, and to pur-
chase, or caused to be purchased, suitable books for the
purpose: provided that the rates paid for copying shall
not exceed four cents per one hundred words.

2. That after such copies have been made and properly
compared and verified, under the supervision of the clerk
of the county court of said counties, or some competent
person appointed by the secretary of the commonwealth,
and the said copies, so compared and verified, certified as
true by the clerk of the said county court by the certifi-
cate at the end of each volume thereof, the said copies
shall be forwarded to Richmond and placed among the
archives of the state for safe-keeping, and a copy from any
such certified book, attested by the secretary of the com-
monwealth, shall serve every purpose of a copy from the
original, and for all such copies the secretary of the com-
monwealth shall have and be entitled to the same fees as
are provided by law for clerks of courts for like copies,
and such fees shall not be considered fees of his office.
8. That the county court, by an order entered of record
when any such books or records are directed to be copied
under the provisions of this act, may, in its discretion,
allow the same to be taken from the clerk’s office for copy-
ing, but shall take all necessary and proper precaution by
requiring bonds in the sum of not less than one thousand
dollars, conditioned for the faithful and proper copying
of the said original records, the preservation and return
thereof to the said county court, and also to prevent the
mutilation thereof.

4. That the costs incurred for copying, comparing, veri-
fying, and certifying said records under the provisions of
sections one and two of this act shall be certified as each
volume shall be completed by the clerk of the county
court to the secretary of the commonwealth, to be paid
out of the funds provided for in section six of this act.

5. The secretary of the commonwealth, in his discretion,
may select such records of such counties as shall be first
and from time to time copied and transcribed.

6. That the sum of five thousand dollars, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby,
appropriated out of any money in the treasury not other-
wise appropriated to pay the cost of transcribing and copy-
ing such books when properly certified by the clerk of the
county court, and for such expenses as may be incurred in
the execution of this act.

7. And the secretary of the commonwealth may, from
time to time, draw his warrant upon the treasury for such
part of such appropriation as may be required.

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