Such railroad, steamboat, express or transportation company shall keep books of record of all such sales as aforesaid containing copies of such notices, proofs of advertisements and postings when required to be made, affidavits of sale, with the amount thereof, the total amount of charges against such freight and the amount held for the owner. Such books shall be open for inspection by the claimants at the principal office of the company and at the office where the sale was made. At any time within five years thereafter such company shall refund any surplus so retained to the owner of such freight, his heirs or assigns, on satisfactory proof of such ownership. If no person shall claim such surplus within five years it shall be paid into the State Treasury.
S.C. Code § 58-13-640