execution of deed.] Any person, company or corporation desiring a deed or deeds from said city or trustees to any portion of said lands as aforesaid, shall make application to said city council in writing therefor by filing his or its application with the city clerk of said city, setting forth a description of the lands claimed by him or it, by lots, blocks, dimensions, boundaries and quantities, so that the same can be readily identified, and shall briefly set forth the nature of his or its title thereto, and the manner in which the same has been obtained, which application shall be signed and sworn to by the party or parties applying therefor; said application shall be accompanied by a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00), which fee shall be all the fee required or collected from any such applicant: provided, that an applicant must, if required by the council of said city, cause the land claimed to be surveyed and the costs of making such survey shall be paid by the applicant. Said application when so made shall be by the mayor of said city referred to the city attorney, or some other attorney whom he may designate who shall investigate said application and if upon investigation such applicant appears to be entitled to a deed and no protest has been filed by the said city, or by any other person, for himself or on behalf of said city, against the granting of said deed as hereinafter provided, then the said attorney or attorneys shall, within thirty (30) days after the filing of said application and reference of the same to him, or them, prepare a deed in proper form covering the said land to the person, company or corporation entitled thereto, and shall make his report upon said application and deliver the said deed to the said city council, which may order the mayor and city clerk of said city to sign and execute said deed on behalf of said city and said cotrustee may also sign the same.