REVERSION. The residue of an estate left in the grantor, to commence In possession after the determination of some particular estate granted out by him. The return of land to the grantor and his heirs after the grant is over. Co. Litt. 142 b; 2 Bla. Corn. 175 ; 4 Kent 354. See CONDITION ; CONDI TIONAL FEE; BASE FEE.
The reversion is a vested interest or estate and arises by operation of law only. In this latter respect it differs from a remainder, which can never arise except either by will or deed ; Cruise, Dig. tit. 17 ; 4 Kent 345; 19 Vin. Abr. 217. A reversion is said to be an incorporeal hereditament ; 4 Kent 354 ; 1 Washb. R. P.,37, 47; Snell's Ex'rs v. Snell, 38 N. J. Eq. 124. The possibility of reverter in the grantor of a qualified or determinable fee is not void for remoteness ; First Univer salist Soc. v. Boland, 155 Mass. 171, 29 N. E. 524, 15 L. R. A. 231; as to the reversion or remainder In lands confiscated by the United States because of the owners engaging in the rebellion, see Jenkins v. Collard, 145 U. S.
546, 12 Sup. Ct. 868, 36 L. Ed. 812. See RE MAINDER; LIMITATION.
In some cages land taken under the right of eminent domain for a specific purpose reverts to the former owner when that pur pose has ceased. See EMINENT DOMAIN ; Es CHEAT.
A street railway leasing its property for 999 years cannot be said to have a reversion in the property, which amounts to anything substantial. It rests upon a false analogy with the English land laws ; Thirteenth & Fifteenth St. P. It Co. v. Broad St. R. T. R. Co., 31 Pa. Co. Ct. R. 103, per Sulzberger, J.
Improvements on the roadbed by a lessee railroad company roadbed leased for 999 years are for the benefit of the lessee ; North ern Pac. Ry. Co. v. Boyd, 228 U. S. 482, 33 Sup. Ct. 554, 57 L. Ed. 931.