Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-15
COSTLY INDIANs.
Faots aod Figures on their Cost to
Uncle Same Pocket.

WAsHINeroS, Dec. l4.--Since the +th
of July, l7.6, when this government be
gan, the Indians have cost the United
States sl,oo0 ooo. 900. says the Globe
Democrat. When the old Pequot chief
met.she Pilgrim Fathers near Plymouth
Rock and said. Welcome Englishmen, v
be spoke for l, ,ooo. 900 Indians.
That vas the estimated number Of
the red race then living within
what are now the bounds Of
the United States. And go it ap-
pears that to date the act Of dispossessing
the Aborigines has cost $1,000 for every
buck, squsw and papoo.e living on the soil
when the white man came.
These are round figures. but they were
close to the exact record. Three years
ago Me-. Tom Donaldson, who is now in
charge of the Indian census, made
q careful compilation. He showed that
from July 1. i7T6. to June 80,
1886, the Indians had cost the
government S929, 239 ,ss&.02. 1t is safe to
say that the four years added to the record
since Mr. Donsldson's researches will bring
the figures up to $1,000, 900 ,0o0. This en-
ormous amount is about one-third Of whs,
the war of the rebellion cost. one-third of
the 81 ,000. 900, 900 has been spent in pacify.
ing and civiliziny Indians. Two-thirds Of
the 81, 900 900, 900 have been absorbed in
fighting Indians.
Senator Doolittle of Wisconsin, once ven
iilated this Indian war business. He WAS in
the Senate when il was proposed TO ne goti.
ate peace with the Navsjoes. Several
other Senators demurrsd to the cost Of the
proposed treaty. Mr.. Doolittle told then,
something about the cost of the Indian
wars. At the same the same time he gave
some interesting facts about the origin OF
these Indian WAS.
What is known rs the great Sioux war
started in 1859. At that time there was
perfect peace on the plains. Some Mor.
mons were driving their cattle toward Salt
Lake. Near Fort Laramie was q gathering 4
of Indians. The military pos, was there
and the Indians were camped near IL. Ono
of the Sioux killed COW belonging
to Mormon. The emigrant complained
The otlcer in command at the post rent oul
a surbordinate with 30 men. This little
force went to the Indian camp and de-
msnded the surrender Of the Sioux who
had killed the COW. The alternative was
that the camp would be fred upon. The
Ind ans replied to the demand. I'VE are
willing to pay for this animal; we will pay
you in buffalo robes or buffalo skins"
The army officer declined. He repeated
his demand for the immediate surrender
The Indians refused. The officer gave the
order to fire. The 20 men obeyed. In 20
minut es the soldiers were killed and scalped,
That was the beginning of the Sioux war OF
1852 The war lasted three or four years.
1t cost the United States between SIS 900, :
600 and $50 10000
The Navsjoe war was another which Mr.
Dooiittle told about. For many years af-
ter this government acquitted the territory
in which the Navsjoes lived there WAS no
trouble. One day Navajoe Indian was
visiting the fort where the troops were.
He got into quarrel with a negro belong
Jog to one of the officers. The suppo siiion
was that the negro insulted the Indian.
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
Irdiap. Tho tribe refused to give him up
Without any delay the troops were marched
out and war was begun. Three campaigns
were made against the Nsvsjoes on this
provoca,ion. The United States troops
were beaten in each of them. The Nsva-
joe war cost the government nearly 500
900 900.
The biggest of all recent Indisn wars
was the one about which least was pub
lished. 1t began in 1862. 1t had its origin
in a comparatively Insignificant matter. A
contractor for furnishing Indian supplies
sent to the Sioux agencies what was sup
posed to be prime mess pork. The con-
signment was found TO consist largely Of
heads Of hogs. The Indians went back
on such rations and took the war path in
stead of the so1ce. Gems. Sibley and
Suliy conducted the campaign. They had
10 00o troops under them.
In this Sio TX war the "Gaivauized Yam
KEGS" as they were called, made their ap
pearance. There were several regiments
of these "Gslvanized Yankees" and they
did good services against the Sioux. Ii
may be explained that "Gaivanized Yau-
KEGS" were Confederate prisoners who took
the oath of allegiance and enlisted in these
regiments to fight Indians in preference to
remsi ing in Northern prisons.