When the Surveyor General¹ shall find any old returns of surveys or other ancient official papers important to be preserved in his office, becoming too much worn and defaced, he shall or may cause accurate copies of all such, from time to time, to be made out for the files of his office, as far as can be done when discovered, and official certified copies taken from such copies as aforesaid shall be equally valid in evidence and have the same force and effect as those of the originals.