Whenever it appears in any court in which any suit or proceeding is pending that the originals of any deeds, or other instruments of writing, or records in courts relating to any lands or irrigation ditches, the title or interest therein being in controversy in such suit or proceedings, are lost or destroyed or not within the power of the parties to produce the same and the records of such deeds or other instruments in writing or other records relating to or affecting such lands or irrigation ditches are destroyed by fire or otherwise, it is lawful for any such party to offer in evidence any abstract of title made in the ordinary course of business prior to such loss or destruction showing the title of such land or irrigation ditches, or any part of the title of such land or irrigation ditches, that may have been made and delivered to the owners or purchasers or other parties interested in the land or irrigation ditches, the title or any part of the title to which is shown by such abstract of title.
Source: L. 1889: p. 309, § 11. R.S. 08: § 5279. C.L. § 5036. CSA: C. 135, § 11. CRS 53: § 113-1-11. C.R.S. 1963: § 113-1-11.