Chap. 137.—-An ACT to provide that adverse possession of the surface of land
shall, under certain circumstances, inure to the benefit of claimants of the min-
erals, oil, gas and other substances underlying the surface, as against a claimant
of a fee simple estate in the land. [H 145]

Approved March 6, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. Adverse possession of the surface of a tract of land in counties
in which the public records of the clerk’s office have been destroyed by
fire subsequent to the year eighteen hundred eighty-four and prior to the
year nineteen hundred thirty-three by the claimant thereof and his pre-
decessors in title, shall inure to the benefit of any claimant of the minerals,
oil, gas and other substances underlying the surface, claiming under
the same source of title as the claimant of the surface, as against an
adverse claimant of a fee simple estate in the land.

2. This act shall become effective July one, nineteen hundred forty-
five.