Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1896 — Cost of Indian Wars. [ARTICLE]

Cost of Indian Wars.

Congress each year makes special appropriations for the maintenance of thirty-five tribes of Indians. The tojal sum given for this purpose being about $675,000, The government is always glad when any o,f the savages can be persuaded to give up the tribal system and take up liomesteads. To encourage this Uncle Sam make a present to the aboriginal farmer of quite a valuable outfit. On accepting an allotment of land he received two cows, a pair of oxen or mares, a plow, a wagon, a harrow, a hoe and a pitchfork. White men are regularly hired to give instructions to the Indians in the agricultural arts, including the care of domestic animals. At the same time women, called "field matrons,” teach the squaws how to cook and keep house. Supplies are furnished annually to 180,000 Indians, of whom 80,000 now wear the ordinary dress of the American citizen. It is interesting to know that 32,300 of these Indians know how to read English, and they occupy 21,600 dwelling houses. It costs a lot of money to maintain the pauperized aborigines of this country. Each year on this account about $1,335,000 is paid for food alone. In addition $795,000 is expended for clothing, blankets dry goods, agricultural implements, wagons and miscellaneous articles. For the storage and transportation of these goods Uncle Sam goes down into his pocket for $30,000. At the same time he hands over $875,000 in cash annuities. These items have nothing to do with the $2,000,000 spent during th* twelve months for the support of Indian schools.