The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-04
VERY EXPENSIVE WARDS.
Those Of the Nation Of Copper
Hue Cost Great Deal of
Money.
The Expense Of Wars With In
dams Since the Year Of
Independence.

The Expense Of Wars With In
dams Since the Year Of
independence.
Great Troubles Grown From Trihtn
Causes-Campaigns and the Cost
Are They Worth It?
A thousand dollars for every Indian
When the old Pequot chief met the Pill
grim Fathers near Plymouth Rock ant
said, welcome, Englishmen," he spoke fol
100000 Indians. That was the estimated
: number of the red race then living within
what are now the bounds of the United
States. Since the 4th of July, 1776. wher
this government began, the Indians have
cost the United States thousand million
dollars, writes w. B. 8. in the Globe Dem
ocrat. And so it appears that, to date, the
act of dispossessing the aborigines has
cost $1,000 for every buck, squaw and
papoose living on the soil when the white
man came.
These are round figures, but they are
very close to the exact record. Three years
ago Mr.. Tom Donaldson. who is now in
charge of the Indian census, made care
full compilation. He showed that from
July 4. 1776, to June 80, 1886, the Indians
had cost the government 1929, 239, 284. OF.
It is safe to say that the four years added
to the record since Mr.. Donaldson's re-
searches will bring the figures up close to
one thousand millions. This enormous
amount is about one-third of what the war
of the rebellion cost. One third of the
one Thousand millions has been spent in
pacifying and civilizing Indians. Two
thirds of the one thousand millions have
been absorbed in fighting Indians. Here is
the account:
Total cost of the Indians to the Omitted
States.
July 7.i5!s to June SO. 1885 >: sas2, soo.oo6 "a
Expended by war department. for
indian wars and incidental there
to, from Ju 4, 1716. to June 1856 6S6.3SO 277 90
Grand total cost Of Indians :. $685., 2s9, 2s4 OF
These figures are not too large. They
probably under estimate the cost to the
government of the Indian wars. In March,
war for the cost of the Indian wars for ten
years. The period covered was from 1872
to 1882. The secretary reported that it was
500. 1894, 506. Wars come high. They come
higher OF late years than they did forty or
fifty years ago. The United States fought
England from 1872 to 1916 and spent only
$66,G14, 912.34. The cost of the Mexican
war, 1846-1848. was $73, 941, 1852. These
two foreign wars we're carried through with
an expenditure of $140,0OO,0O0. But ten
years Of Indian fighting, from 1872 to 1882,
cost 500, 9994 ,5O6. It appears that Indian
wars come highest of all.
Senator Doolittle, of Wisconsin, once
ventilated this Indian war business. He
was in the senate when it was proposed to
negotiate peace with the Navajoes. Sew
eral other senator's demurred to the cost Of
the proposed treaty. Mr.. Doolittle told
them something about the cost of Indian
wars. At the same time he gave some in
teresting facts about the origin of these In
dian wars. What is known as the great
Sioux war started in 1862. At that time |
Some Mormons were driving their cattle |
toward Salt Lake. Near Fort Laramie
was q gathering of ,Indians.s The mill !
tary post was there, and the Indians were |
camped near it. One of the Sioux |
mon. The emigrant complained. The off,
Ger in command at the post sent out sub
ordinate with twenty men. This little force
went to the Indian camp and demanded the |
surrender of the Sioux who had killed the
to the demand: I'VE are willing to pay for
robes OF buffalo SKINS TRe army p ofIicep
declined. He repeated his demand for the
immediate surrender. The Indians re-
The twenty men obeyed. In twenty MN
utes the soldiers were killed and scalped.
That was the beginning Of the Sioux war
of 1852. The war lasted three or four years.
II cost the Unitsd States between $1,000
coo and 100000.
Doolittle told about. For many years
after this government acquired the terri
tory in which the Navajoes lived there was
no trouble. One day Navajo Indian way
visiting the fort where the troops were.
+ he got into a quarrel rel With negro boy be-
sition was that the negro insulted the Indi- +
an. The latter drew his bow and put an
arrow into the negro, killing him. Then he
fled to his tribe. The officer sent demand
for the surrender of the Indian. The tribe
refused to give him up: Without any delay
begun. Three campaigns were made against
The NRvajoes on this provocation. The
United States troops were beaten in each of !
Them. This Navajo war cost the govern
ment nearly SO, 100000.
Zone more illustration Was furnished by
the senator. He told how the Cheyenne
and Arapahoe war began. Some cattle had
been stolen. It was supposed that the In. {
dams had taken them. A lieutenant was
vent out with detachment from the post.
his instructions were peculiar. He was or
dered to follow the Indians and diaarm
them-not to demand the cattle or repara.
lion. but to take the arms of the Indians l
This little command was started vifhont
my interpreter. Tho lieutenant oyertook
he Indians. He had no means of commn- 7
lication but signs. He tried to take away
rom them their bows and arrows. What :
vas the result? A fight. of course: and sol
he bloody Cheyenne and Arapahoe war be- .
ian.
The biggest of all recent Indian wars was 8
he one about which least was published, .
t occurred during the civil war. There +
vas 80 much fighting going on between
Unite men that the campaign against the Z
,loux IN the northwest was only side
how. This war began in 1862. Il had it,
'raRin In comparatively insignificant Z
natter. A contractor for furnishino Indian '
uppiies sent to the Sioux agencies what
Vas supposed to be prime mess pork. Ths =
was found to consist LARGELY Of
leads of hogs. The Indians went bach m
uch rations and took the war path instead b
I the souse. Gems. Sibley and Suliy CON 3
ucted the campaign. They had 15O00|
roops under them. It was in this Siony
!ar that the Galvanized Yankees. as p
hey were called, made their appearanoe o
here were several regiments Of these
Yankees" and they did GOOD y
efvice against the Sioux. It NAV be an. =
lained that Galvanized Yankees,' were n
onfederate prisopers who took the oath Of 8
and enlisted in these regiments 8