1423

ix

The duties imposed upon this Office by the several Bounty
Acts, have been exceedingly onerous and complicated. The
many defects in the Acts referred to, together with the reck,
leas action in several instances, of officers, in the authentica-
tion of claims, and in certifying to the identity of claimants,
greatly increased the difficulties surrounding the settlement
of these claims.

In the disbursement of so large an amount, in sums rang-
ing from fifty to three hundred dollars, the hope was scarcely
entertained that this Office would be entirely successful in de-
feating fraudulent claims. Many were presented, but by the
exercise of care, and the use of other means in the possession
of the Office, they were generally detected; so that the amount
of fraudulent claims paid directly from this Department, does
not exceed two thousand dollars. In the year 1864, under
the provisions of the Acts of that year, a large sum wag
placed in the hands of the County Commissioners of the sev-
eral counties, and the City Register of Baltimore, for the pay-
ment of bounty to white and free colored Volunteers. Pay-
ments of the bounty were made by them to colored Volun-
teers appearing on their rolls as free, who, as it was after-
wards ascertained, were slaves at the time of their enlistment,
and only entitled to one hundred dollars, and not to two hun-
dred and fifty dollars—the amount paid. The loss on this
account, so far as ascertained is about $7,000. Its extent
cannot be fully determined until there is a settlement with
these officers.

EASTERN SHORE RAIL ROADS.

There was paid during the fiscal year on acequnt of the
State's subscription to the stock of certain Rail Roads on the
Eastern Shore, made by virtue of the Act of I860, chapter
303, the sum of $137,852.75, as follows:

To the Eastern Shore Rail Road Company..... $66,607.75

Maryland and Delaware Rail Road Com-
pany ............................. 56,245 00

Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Rail
Road Company .................... 15,000 00

The balances due the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central
and Eastern Shore Companies, have been paid in full. There
was due, at the close of the fiscal year, to the Maryland
and Delaware Company $15,105.00.

The Kent County Rail Road Company having complied
with the requirements of the Act of 1860, the Treasurer, on
the part of the State, has subscribed to its capital stock to the
amount of $101,625.