1412 LAND OFFICE. [ART. 54

on such certificate as fully as if this section had not been
enacted. If the amount involved does not justify in proceed-
ing as above, the commissioner, after giving at least two months'
notice in writing to the owner of the certificate of the amount
due thereon for fees and composition money, and the same is
not paid within two months after such notice, then such cer-
tificate may be vacated and annulled, and the vacant land
included in such certificate may be taken up by any one in the
same manner as other vacant land. If however, the said notice
is returned unserved by reason of the owner of the certificate
not being found by the sheriff of the rounty where the vacant
land embraced in said certificate is situated or where the owner
resides, or is dead, or for any other cause the said notice can-
not be served, the commissioner of the land office may then
give at least-four weeks' notice in some newspaper printed and
published in the county where the land lies, that the examiner's
fee and composition money is not paid as provided in the
notice aforesaid; the land commissioner may, after the expira-
tion of two months from the date of the last publication of
said notice, the examining fee and composition money still
remaining unpaid, vacate and annul such certificate, and the
land included in such certificate may be taken up by anyone
in the same, manner as other vacant land. And the costs of
issuing any such notice, service or advertisement, shall be paid
by the owner of such certificate, and if dead, be a preferred claim
against the decedent's estate, if the said estate, is not finally
administered; and such costs shall be collected by the sheriffs
of the several counties and Baltimore city, as fees of the land
office are collected.

1888, art. 54, sec. 34. 1860, art. 54, sec. 27. 1781, ch. 20, sec. 8. 1861, ch. 3.

37. The person who first applies to the commissioner of the
land office for a warrant during business hours shall be entitled
to the same upon paying the usual fees and caution money.

Ibid. sec. 35. 1860, art. 54, sec. 28. 1781, ch. 20, sec. 9.

38. The value of all escheat lands and the improvements
thereon and the real value of any improvements upon vacant
land shall be returned and certified to by the surveyor, on oath,
at the time of returning his certificate of survey; and the com-
missioner of the land office shall finally ascertain the value of
such land and improvements, and receive the money therefor
from the party, but the omission by the surveyor to return
such valuation shall in no case be a cause of caveat.