Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-29
U N CT E SAL MS WARDS
A Census Office Estimate of What the
Indian Has Cost.
The Expense of the Various Wars ms
Well as the Civil Administra-
ton is Included.


Written for The Evening Star.
In the complete Indian census report Just
published, an interesting attempt is made
for the first time to cast up in figures an
aggregate of the government expenditures
account of the red men residing within
our borders since the Union was establish
cd in 1889. The result of this remarkable
attempt indicates in the statistics present
ed that the gigantic sum of one billion one
hundred and five million odd dollars (S1,-
1O5, 219.372) spent by the government
up to the year 1890. either upon the In
dams dire lily, or indirectly because of m
dams. Counting in, however, the civil and
military expenses for Indians since then,
together with incidental expenses not recog-
nized in the official figures given, it is safe
to say that up to June 80, 1895, a further
sum of $144, 7S0.62S may be added to the
foregoing figures. making a grand aggre-
gate Of $1,2JO,OOO,OOO chargeable to Indians
to date.
The problem is such a difficult and in
tricate one that 1t has never been attempted
before. The prime factors entering into the
problem are % the expenses of the wars
waged between the federal government and
the Indian tribes since the date mentioned
and the maintenance of our standing army
in the vicinity of the reserva tons, (2) the
claims of the states for indemnity for ex-
penses incurred in repelling Indian inva-
sions, CD the civil and educational expenses
pensions to the survivors or widows of SOL
diers serving in Indian wars.
Wars With the Red Men.
OF course, a large amount of treasure
vas spent in wars with the American In
dams prior to the establishment of the
federal government in 1IS9 Indeed, ever
since the white man appeared within the
present territory of the United States there
has been war almost continually, beginning
on the Pacific side in 1888, and on the At
lantic side soon after the year 1000. Since
the founding of our government the United
States army, except when engaged in the
wars with Great Britain and Mexico, and
during the rebellion has been used almost
exclusively in the Indian service, and has
heen stationed largely in the Indian cour-
try or along the frontier.
In their calculation the Indian census ex-
perts omit the army expenses incident to
the wars with England and Mexico, and
the rebellion, with its sequel of reconstruct
ton, and safely count two-thirds of the
total expenses of the army chargeable
directly or indirectly to the Indians The
total expenses of the army from 1883 TO
1890 We're found to be 81, 725, 521, 1875; but de-
Quoting $3,514,011.O07 for the foreign wars
and the rebellion the remainder is 81 ,210-
G10, 1877. Fully two-thirds of this sum, or
SS07, 013, 6JS, 1t 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 administration
for the period between 1888 and 1890,
amounting to S259, 944 OS2, and $4,000, 900
more to reimburse particular states for ex-
penSeS incurred by them in Indian wars,
and 2S.2o1, 632 more for pensions to sur
vivors or widows of Indian wars, and then
the total foots up to 81, 105,2l9,312 Count
ing in, as suggested above, S144, 1S0,62S for
| civil administration expenses and a pro-