The court of quarter sessions of the county of Philadelphia be and they are hereby authorized, upon the application of the owner or owners of the adjacent ground, to appoint a jury of view, according to the laws of this commonwealth in relation to the streets, lanes and alleys within the city of Philadelphia, for the purpose of ascertaining and determining whether an alley or court called Oak alley or court, running southward from Pine street to the depth of two hundred and three feet, between Second and Third streets, from the Schuylkill, has become useless and inconvenient to the public; and if the jury aforesaid shall be of opinion, and report that the said alley or court ought to be closed and vacated, and the said report shall be confirmed by the said court in the usual manner, then and from that time the said alley or court shall be vacated and laid aside forever, as if the same had never been opened, and all right therein, and title thereto shall be vested in the owner or owners of the adjoining lots, upon application being made for the vacating of the whole or part of any street, lane or alley in the city or county of Philadelphia, it shall be the duty of the court of quarter sessions of said county to appoint a jury to view and report thereon; and if the report of said jury shall be in favor of vacating, and the court shall confirm said report, then such street, lane or alley shall be forthwith vacated.
53 P.S. § 16421