Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-21
mprAx STATISTICS.

IuDnAX STATISTICS.
Nov that the national census is once
moro . subject of legislation and popular
discussion, statistics concerning our alb
ORIGINAL tribes will again become a matter
Of national importance. The debate on
The Census bill for 1880 has brought for
ward the history and returns Of previous
decades, and raised . worthy and warrant
ed anxiety 10 ascertain the ratio Of increase
In population and wealth, and the distri-
baton Of both since both were allowed
choir natural progress. Included in the
debate il the best manner Of counting the
Indians, and the probable numbers that
will be shown. Some at least of those who
IRE connected with the Interior Depart
ment favor the plan Of having the Indians
count themselves. Some in the War De-
partment scout the notion, and would have
the residue Of the aborigines told off by
Captains and Lieutenants in such q way
that they may be found when wanted.
And outside Of the Departments there are
students Of e~thnography who wish accurate
information for scientific ends, and prac-
teal persnns who desire ii for business.
1t 10 not, perhaps, singular when the no
madic habits Of the Indians are considered,
that We have no better information than
We have Of their numbers, divisions and
condition. But at ; first view it seems
strange that 80 highly-civilized q country
~ this IL should be so ignorant on an i'm
portant point. Our knowledge is simply
conjecture, based upon imperfect and I'M
reliable data and SO long IS 1t remains
what il has been and is, all that may be
said Of increase and decrease will be pure
guesswork. at the best only approximating
the truth.
The earliest reports and estimates were
necessarily worthless. There was no knowl-
edge Of the density Of population outside
Of . few points, and ever that was unrelia-
bic, owing to the migratory habits Of the
tribes. Early in this century Mr.. Morse,
assuming his premises, declared that there
were just All ,O36 Indians in the whole
country I; but five years later the Secretary
OF War reduced them to 120, 366, without
firing q gun. At the middle of the century
they had, however, multiplied to 1888, 229,
according TO Mr.. Schoolcraft, and seven
years later fallen off 5000. But the census
Of 1850 differed from Schoolcraft 1880
Indians ; and whereas the last census re-
turned S13, 712, the Indian Department,
only q year later, figured up $50, 600, and
in 1876 revised that calculation to 291 1922.
The Indian Commission heard General
Sherman estimate the whole number at
222, 900, and Colonel Meacham places it at
265, 900, although the reservations alone
were said to contain 237, ATS in 1871.
The precision given to numbers that can
mot be exactly known c~onspires with the
differences to cast doubt upon the whole
This may, however, be par
italy accepted, and if used as a means to-
ward attaining . probability, We have as
the mean Of the eight estimates since 1850
= little over 500, 900 Indians, scattered from
Alaska to Mexico, and found on both banks
Of the Mississippi. This number is in
utter d~isproportion to the wars they cause,
the robberies they commit, the presents
and g~ratuities they receive, and the costs
OF maintaining an Indian Bureau. of trans
porting and providing troops wherever
they proclaim hostilities or commit hos
Utilities without warning, is patent at a
reach OF control and discipline. They can
be commanded, and if placed upon reser-
~vations, and fed and clothed without re-
turn, the cost would be infinitely below
that now incurred, and immigration would
seek regions it avoids, and industry i'm
prove territories it only dares to enter
armed.
It 10 to be hoped that an approximately
correct estimate will be prepared for the
coming census. Industry conspires with
science in demanding it; and it certainly
Is not beyond the reach Of labor. The re-
servstions can be told off like civilized
counties or towns, and . proper selection
Of army officers would enable q sufi-
GENTLY exact knowledge to be gained of the
wild tribes. the semi-civilized and civilized.
From such . statement we should not only
know what the decline is, and where and
under what conditions any increase is
found. but be able to revise our national
expenditures and direct immigration.