The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-05
UNCLE SAM'S INDIANS.
An Official Estimate of Their Cost
 to the Government.
A Dif1oult and Intricate Problem That Has Never Been Attempted Before Warfare with the
 Redmen,

In the complete Indian census report, 1 just published, an interesting attempt is
 made for the first time to cast up in figures an aggregate of the government expenditures on account of the red men residing within our borders since the union was established in 17S9. The re- suit of this remarkable attempt indi- cates in the statistics presented that the gigantic sum of one billion one hundred and five million odd dollars (S1, 105, ,219, ,327) was spent by the govern ment 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 Indians since then, together with in- cidental expenses not recognized in the official figures given, it is safe to say that up to June 30, 1895, further sum of s114, 4,7s0,62s may be added to the foregoing figures, making a grand az gregate of s1, ,250, ,000, ,000 chargeable to Indians to date.
 The problem, says the Washington Star, is such difficult and intricate one that it has never been attempted before. The prime factors entering in- to the problem are: CD 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- Penses incurred in repelling Indian in- vasions; (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, large amount of treasure was spent in wars with the American Indians prior to the tablishment of the federal government in 1789. 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 toned 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 twot 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 17S9 to 1890 were found to be S4, ,725, ,521 ,495; but deducting s3,514, ,911, ,0O7 for the for eign wars and the civil war, the re- mainder is s1,210, 0,610,4 ,4S9. Fully two thirds of this sum, or sSO7, ,073, ,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 S259, ,944 ,082, and S10,000,000 more to reimburse particular states for expenses incurred by them in Indian wars, and s2S,20t ,632 more for pensions to survivors or widows of Indian wars, and then the total foots up to s1,1O5, ,219,372. Counting in, as suggested above, S144, ,7S0,62S for civil administration expenses and propor- tionate share of the army expenses since 1890, the grand total becomes s1,25O, ,OO0,O ,O0O-a billion and quarter of dollars.
 The Indian wars under the govern ment of the United States are stated to have numbered more than 40, and to have cost the lives of about 19,OOO white men, women and children, including about 5000 killed in individual encoun- ters, of which history takes no note, and of 30,OOO 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 the 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 United States since the white man came has contained at one time more than 500, ,000 Indians. High estimates were made in the early days, but the average even then was about 100000. Tn 1890 we have PAS, ,253 civilized and uncivilized Indians. Through almost four cen- turies warlike bands have resisted, and many of these Indians are still resisting 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 a few exceptions, too poor or too few to fight, or they con- sider it too dangerous"