The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-05-14
COST or INDIAN WARS.


Cost Of Fighting Poor Lo.
A few figures, which will prove very
Interesting to people who have paid at
tention 10 Indian affairs during the past
few years, were given by commits.
sioner connected with the Indian bureau
at Washington while he was visiting
this city the other day.
He has had charge OF the Indian CEN
sus under one administration and has
also taken a prominent part in the
negotiations for the purchase Of lands
from the Sioux. He has lived among
the Indians and was an ardent friend Of
the late Sitting Bull and other noted
chiefs
Some one in party at an uptown
hotel spoke of the trouble in the North
west and asked the commissioner for
his opinion as TO the cause of the out
break.
He laid the blame on the Government
and the Incompetent men who have
represented II in dealing with the
aborigines Those who were not in
competent he said. were worse, and
generally retired with fortune two or
three years after receiving their APP,
pointments. During the past few years,
however, there has been little or no
chance to acquire wealth rapidly, and
the only cause, the commissioner said,
was because the Indians were destitute
of wealth and have none to lose for the
white men to acquire. The rations
promised by the Government were
scanty, and the issue was often delayed
for weeks at time.
This last statement said he, docs
not appear to mean very much; but
when persons depend upon those rations
for existence in lieu Of game and are
compelled to go always without food
they can appreciate the Indians condi-
ton, and not wonder that he halls with
delight the belief that Messiah is
coming to mitigate his hardships.
"Mr. Thomas Donaldson, who is con-
nected with the Indian census, made
compilation several years ago regard
ing the cost Of the various Indian wars
From these figures, If the Government
policy had been to better the Indians
condition, can safely say that every
Sioux buck would now be the possessor
of a farm worth at least 80, 900 If the
money had been paid him instead Of 1t
being spent for powder and shot.
According to Mr.. Donaldson's fig
ures, since the organization of the Gov
eminent on July 4, 1776. up to June 80,
1857, the Indians have cost us 5000, 2S9,-
2S4. Only one-third of this enormous
amount has been spent in civilizing the
Indians, while two-thirds has been spent
In fighting them, in the transportation
Of troops and the purchase Of munitions
of war
The most costly Of all Indian wars
was that known as the great Sioux war,
which broke out in 1862 and lasted
about four years. How many Indians
were killed do not know, and can
not give the exact number of soldiers
and settlers. The losses on both sides,
however, were very heavy.
This war cost the Government S20,-
10000 The Navajo war cost sl5,OO0,-
900, and something like $500, 600, 900
were expended during the wars from
1862 to 1875. The Sioux war of 1876,
Celebrated by the Custer massacre, cost
for actual field expenses 81, 3i2, 1881,
while the Nez Perces war of the follow
ing year cost 1881, 329.52. Two hundred
and forty-one officers and soldiers were
killed, and the Indian losses were 1913.
"The next outbreak occurred among
the Bannock Indians in 1878, and $780,
6s6 were spent in subduing them.
There has been considerable Indian
fighting with little squads of Apaches
In Arizona and New Mexico since 1882,
and for every Apache run down and
killed the government has spent $780,
600.
''Thcse figures, of course, appear ex-
brilliant to person not familiar with
Indian fighting, but when one takes
into consideration all of the expenses
incidental to the long chases across the
country they will find that the figures
are correct. IN. Y. Herald.