Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 16953. Conveyances to be registered

To enable the chief engineer and surveyor of the city to keep up the said books of plans, it shall be the duty of every seller and buyer of ground, upon the planned plot of the city of Philadelphia, to make report to him of every conveyance made, with the precise dimensions and locality of the premises, and so doing, the same shall be received without charge, and noted on the deed of conveyance by the assistance of the said chief engineer and surveyor. But if said seller and buyer shall both omit said duty, the recorder of deeds of the said county of Philadelphia shall not admit the deed of conveyance to record in his office, without charging fifteen cents for each lot described therein; and it shall then be his duty to furnish the proper description of such lot or lots, with the date of conveyance, and names of grantor or grantee, within one month, into the office of the department of surveys, under the penalty of one dollar for each omission, to be recovered as penalties for taking unlawful fees are recovered, for the use of the said city. And it shall be the duty of every purchaser of houses and lands, at judicial sales, and of every one to whom an allotment in partition shall have been made, and of every devisee by will, to make return to the chief engineer and surveyor, of the purchase he has made, or allotment he has received, and of all devises made to him by will, with descriptions as aforesaid, which the said chief engineer and surveyor shall receive without charge. But if he shall not have done so, simultaneously with the completion of his purchase, or on partition perfected, or if, on probate of any will, the devisee shall not have done so, as to any houses or lands in the said city, purchased, allotted or devised, it shall be the duty of the clerk or prothonotary of the proper court, under whose authority such judgment or partition shall have been made, and for the register of wills, to furnish such descriptions, as are above required of the recorder of deeds, so far as the wills to be proved in his office shall enable him to do so, for the like charge, and under the same penalty; and the clerk or prothonotary and register may make such charge against such purchaser or party taking in partition, or devisee, on delivery of the deed, certifying proceedings in partition, or granting probate of the will, and that whether the same be in trust, or for any estate for life only, or otherwise, unless the party interested shall produce to him or them, the certificate of the chief engineer and surveyor, that such duty has been performed.