Chap. 283.—An ACT authorizing the register of the land office of Virginia
to correct certain irregularities and supply omissions in the recordation
of various papers of record in hig office, and making certified copies of
such records when so corrected competent evidence in the courts of this
Commonwealth. (H. B. 104.)

Approved March 25, 1914.

Whereas, it appears that various grants of public lands of this
Commonwealth have, from time to time, been spread upon the re-
cords in the land office of Virginia without the name of the gov-
ernor, whose name appears in the body of said grants, being sub-
scribed thereto on said records, by reason whereof, and especially
in the event of the loss of the originals of said grants, the owners
of the land therein granted would be put to great disadvantage in
legal proceedings wherein the title to such land is brought in con-

- troversy; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the register of the land office of Virginia be, and he is, hereby au-
thorized and directed, to subscribe the name of the governor of Vir-
ginia, as the same appears in the body thereof, to the record of such
grants of public lands of this Commonwealth as now appear of re-
cord in said land office without the name of such governor being
subscribed thereto on said records; either upon the presentation to
such register of the original grants with the genuine signature of
such governor subscribed thereto, or upon it appearing to said regr-
ister from the records in his office that such grants had been regrua-
larly issued; and when the name of such governor shall have been
so subscribed to such grants on said record, copies thereof, dulw
certified by the register of the land office, shall be received in ewi-
dence in any legal proceeding in which the title to the land therein
described is brought into controversy, and shall have the effect of
perfecting the title to the lands mentioned therein of the party claim -
ing by, under or through such patent, provided the title is otherwise
good and sufficient in the party so claiming the same. But nothins
herein contained shall in any manner affect any vested right ad
. Verse to any party claiming under and by virtue of such unsigned
patent.

_ And the register of the land office shall hereby certify, on the
~ face of the record, the date on which he affixed the signature under
' this act. Provided, however, that nothing herein shall divest the
"rights of any junior grantee or claimant or any one holding under
_ those whose land lies either within or partly within the lines of
such recorded patent to which the register of the land office shall
" affix the signature of the governor under this act. But the rights
_ of all such junior patentees or claimants or those holding under
them shall remain as if the register of the land office has not sub-
scribed the name of the governor thereto under this act.