That whenever, in the opinion of the board of supervisors of any county in this state, from the defaced or mutilated condition of any assessment rolls, returns of township treasurers, or other papers, on file, under the provisions of law, in the office of the treasurer of such county, and for their better preservation, it shall be necessary that the same be copied or bound or both, that it shall be lawful and shall be the duty of such board of supervisors to authorize and order the copying or binding, or both, of such archives.