The Weekly Arizonian., 1870-01-22
FHR WEEKLY ARTEONAN
JANUARY 22...............lS70.
THE INDIAN QUESTION

he cOEQutOu Ol OhA ihI'dH 9A"AS ID today, discussed with greater show of inter- 0st than, perhaps, at any former tiue. Among the writers and statesmen C. tbis country the ouestion has always been discussed ir a man ner which svinced an almost iuexcusa5ie dI- ference of opinion but never before, perhaps have short-siEata5aes5 aaiignorauce controil- e1 question Of go much importance to the country and Of such dreadful import 10 those irnmodi1tely under its influence as the subject ofIn4ian affairs in Arizona which, @ present, is considered with the most disgusting fPpancy, and by men whose special duty is to give it due consideration with the view to the eradi cation of the evll and rlinous efects-the result of a mistake of years.
 General Ord in his report, says: "hostilitjes in Arizona are kep. up with view of protect ing the inhabitants, most of whom are support ed by the ho,liIities.
 In tlis statement Gen. Ord cert ainly knows there must be a blending of fasehood. Le: us enquire under what circumstances and in what manner this protection of the inhabitants is extended No freightsr, whether he have Guar termasters stores, or merchandise for citizens is ever protected, unless military officer have occasion to accompany his train; in which case soma 10 OF l2 soldiers (accordina 0 Gen. Ord sarrangemants) are detaiedto accompany said officer; and thus afford species Of acci, dental protection.
 Neither fnruer nor traveller receives Goy military protection, and we know of none who do unless indeed, the inhabitants of military posts. Again Gen. Ord'S report says:-Ouis about ,o0) fighting men of the Apache h. dans are left. The race is fast dying out.
 The absur iity of this statement will be best understood by contrast with statements made by Gen. Thomas, commanding the Department of tle Pacific He says
 In administering an extensive military de- partmeut ike this, containing over 450,0O square miles, or greater hy about 100 0O0square miles than the original l3 States, occupied by a population of savages estimated at from 50- coo to 75 GOO, garrsoned by 3 GOO men, or
 
 tered iN 90 posts, camus and environments, maSy of them only accessible at certain seasons ofthe year and after crossing gextensive deserts, the expenditures are principally due to the cost oftvansportiug supplies The expense ofsup- plying rations at camp Goodwin, one of the posts Of Arizona, and of feeding animals there, can be comy ared with similar expenses in San Francisco when 1t is known that a good barrel of four can be bought iu San Francis,o for the army for from S4 to s in gold and it h. heretofore cost 10 take POO pounds of freight 10 Camp Goodwin, in Arizona about $30 in gold; going by land from Yuma depot. A barrel ot flour purchased in Arizoua costs, 4vered at Camp Goodwin, about S25 in gold So that it h. cosf the Government purchasirg 2 supplies there or herea5out five or six times as much 10 feed tue soldiers there as here, ard the rati1 n for horse at Camp Goodwin, costs nov about fva times as much as it does ir San Francisco.
 There are II posts in Arizona, with an aver age garrison of l5C msn each or HOO men, There are in the Territory 1900 horses and mules; and to maintain these troops and ani- mals it cost the Government, not including fuel, quarters, medical attendance, arms and &C., coulremanIs ammunition, clothing pay of the troops ami employees, or stables at eas: S4, 900 a day; add other items all the moro expensive where. ns iG Southern Arizona foot of lumber costs 9 cents, and the costs to the Gevern- ment for ,he troops in Arizona is not far from $3,000, 003 per annum.
 This represents matters pretty nearly as they ara; with this exception, that in calculating prices every thing is considerably overrated
 But admitting that it costs three millions oi dollars per aunum to carry on this mock war against the Apaehes the magnanmity of the government deserves not to be apFlauded, but its mismanagenent condemned.
 An active war has been carried on against these Indians during the past six years, costing in the aggregate about $l5, 900, GOO and ell this has went for nothing, as the Indian is today more formidable than he wss six years age, And if like force operate in like manner fer the next six years it will certainly accomplish no more than has been done ia the past, whil, another Sl5 coo, 900 will have passed from tn, treasury; from which nOreturn will ever be ob tainsd. Now, itwould appear to us that enougl has been learned in this school to sugqes