Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if the said associations, now engaged in mining, shall discontinue all their operations, under their several acts of incorporation, within one year, then, and in that case, the commonwealth does hereby release to the individuals composing said associations, according to their respective interests, all the right, title and interest which the commonwealth has acquired to the real estate of said associations, respectively, in pursuance of the laws and statutes relating to mortmain.
AND WHEREAS, the Delaware coal company, and the North American coal company, have petitioned the Legislature, setting forth that they have embarked large capitals in the purchase of coal lands, and have expended their money liberally in the construction of rail roads, and are now extensively engaged in the business of mining and transporting coal, and that they could not, without great loss to those concerned in the business, cease their operations, and praying the Legislature, in consideration of these circumstances, to grant them a period of years sufficient to remunerate the stockholders for the heavy expenses incurred by them: And whereas, it has been represented to the Legislature that the stock in the two companies aforesaid, is now principally owned by citizens of Pennsylvania: