The St. Johns herald., 1895-12-14
U..CLE SAM'S INDIANS.
A Official Estimate of Their Cost
 to the Government.
4 pifacuIt and Intricate Problem That S Has Never Been Attempted Before Warfare with the
 EedDen.

h the complete Indian census report, just published, an interesting attempt is made for the first time to cast up in fig res a1 aggregate of the government exl mixtures on account Of the red men res ling within our borders since the un 1n ysas established in 1759. The re- sult of this remarkable attempt indi- cates in the statistics presented that the gigantic sum of one billion one hundrc and five million odd dollars (s1. 1O5, ,219, ,327) was spent by the govern mcnt up to the year 1890, either upon the Indian directly, or indirectly be- cause of Indians. Counting in, how ever. the civil and military expenses for I,d-ans since then, together with in cidc1tal expenses not recognized in the olcial figures. given, it is safe to say that up to June 90, 1895, further sum of 14,7s0,62S may be added to the foregoing figures, making a grand ag- gregate of s1,250. .000, ,060 chargeable to Indians to date.
 The problem, says the Washington Star, is such "a difficult and intricate one that it has never been attempted before. The prime factors entering in- to the problem are: Q) The expenses of the wars waged between the federal government and the Indian tribes since the date mentioned and the mainten- ance of our standing army in the vicin- ity of the resorva tions; (2) the claims of the states for indemnity for ex- Pe1scs incurred in repellirg Indian in visions; (3) the civil and educational ex- penses incurred on account of Indians, and (4) the cost of pensions to the sur vivors or widows of soldiers serving in Indian wars.
 Of course, a large amount of treasure was spent in wars with the American Indians prior to the esta blishment of the federal government in 17S9. In deed, ever since the white man ap- peared within the present territory of the United States there has been war almost continually, beginning on the Pacific side in 1539, and on the Atlantic side soon after the year 1900. Since the founding of our government the United States army, except when en- gagged in the wars with Great Britain and Mexico, and during the civil war, has been used almost exclusively in the Indian service, and has been sta tioned largely in the Indian country or along the frontier.
 In their calculation the Indian census experts omit the army expenses incl dent to the wars with England and Mexico, and the civil war, with its sequel of reconstruction, and safely counts two-thirds of the total ex- penses of the army as cbargeable di- rectly or indirectly to the Indians. The total expenses of the army from 17S0 to 1890 were found to be S4,725, ,521 ,495; but deducting s3,514, ,9l1, ,OO7 for the for eign wars and the civil war, the re- n,ainder is s1, O,61o,4S0. Fully two thirds of this sum, or ss07, ,07S, ,65S, it is estimated, was expended for Indian wars and for army service against the Indians.
 To this sum the census experts add the expenses of the Indian civil admin istration for the period between 17s9 and 1890, amounting to S250, ,944, ,0S2, and s1o,00O, GOO more to reimburse particular states for expenses incurred by them in Indian wars, and S2S,20l.63 more for pensions to survivors or widows of Indian wars, and then the total foots up to s1, ,105, ,219,372. Counting in, as suggested above, s144, ,7So,6 ,62S for civil administration expenses and propor- tionate share of the army expenses since 1890, the grand total becomes q c53,0co, ,0o0-a billion and a quarter of dollars.
 The Indian wars under the govern mont of the United States are stated to have numbered more than 40, and to have cost the lives of about 19, 900 white men, women end children, including about 5000 killed in individual encoun- ters, of which history takes no note, and of S0,000 Indians, including $500 killed in personal encounters.
 It has been the policy of the national government since the year 1928 to re- fund to the states and territories the moneys paid out by them in suppressing Indian hostilities. This liability is based on the fact that the federal gov ernment has treated the Indians either as nations or as wards of the nation, thus keeping them from control by the several states.
 Speaking of the number of Indians now in the United States, as shown by tho reports of special agents, and the number supposed to have lived in the past, the census editor says: Ut is not probable that the present area of the CEited States since the white man came has contained at one time more than 60o,000 Indians. High estimates were maae in the early days, but the average even then was about 1000, coo. Tn 1eGo we have PAS. 25Scivilized and rncivilized Indians. Through almost four cen- turies warlike bands have resisted. and many of these Indians are still residing progress. There are not 10 tribes out of any of the 200 or more now in the United States but that have been in revolt, and those existing as tribes are now remnants, with few exceptions, too poor or too few to fight, or they con- slider it too dangerous.
 Alexander Fad Tender Heart.