State Reform School

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==Economic Impact==

−

To many, giving Miles City the reform school, was considered "giving the dog a bone". But, over the years, the outside dollars brought economic stability~~. Direct~~ employment for a dozen or so locals~~. An~~ expanded customer base allowed merchants to ~~operate~~ at a level above what the locals could support. Although most histories of the school mention that it was "self-supporting" growing/raising most of its own food, at least in the early years, a lot of the food came from local merchants.

+

To many, giving Miles City the reform school, was considered "giving the dog a bone" (compared to the State prison or insane asylum, perhaps). But, over the years, the outside dollars brought economic stability, through direct employment for a dozen or so locals and an expanded customer base which allowed merchants to stock inventory at a level above what the locals could support. Although most histories of the school mention that it was "self-supporting", growing/raising most of its own food, at least in the early years, a lot of the food came from local merchants. In 1897, total budget was about $16,600, which in today's terms is about $450.000.

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</table>

−

In 1899, a spending authorization passed to catch up some unpaid bills for the previous three years. For some reason, very few payments were made in Sept 1896, including the payroll. Perhaps this took care of it, but if so, it must have been tough to wait 3 years to receive an entire month's wages.

+

In 1899, a spending authorization passed to catch up some unpaid bills for the previous three years. For some reason, very few payments were made in Sept 1896, including the payroll. Perhaps this took care of it, but if so, it must have been tough to wait 3 years to receive an entire month's wages. No payments are listed in the regular reports for Dec 1896, or for Nov, Dec and half of Oct 1987. Note that the Hyltons were replaced in May 1897, so this appropriation contained two months of wages for each about 2 years after they stopped working for the school.

<table>

<tr><td> A. J. Hylton </td><td> $250.00 </td><td>( $6,790.00 )</td></tr>

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<tr><td> Armour Packing Co. </td><td> $14.00 </td><td>( $380.24 )</td></tr>

</table>

+

Analysis of above data:

+

No totala will be attempted, as the data isn't complete. It's value as a snapshot is great, however. Some deductions that can be made.

+

* The director/matron, a husband/wife team (though paid separately) changed from the original A. J. Hylton and wife to B. C. White and wife in May 1897, with B. C. receiving full pay for May and his wife getting 3/4 pay for the month. (She must have either arrived a week later, or at least didn't start working for the first week.)

+

* There seems to be a policy of spreading the purchases around, possibly to avoid charges of favoritism?

+

* State funding, while inevitable, seems to have been sporadic. There are indications that budgets were overspent in both 1896 and 1897. In October 1897, the staff was paid, but not the director and his wife, nor any creditors. The previous year's report listed expenses for November, but not 1897's report. Both year's reports have partial month's payments listed for the previous December. And, as listed directly above, the legislature had to catch up missing payments up for up to 3 years.

+

* Purchases include: electricity and light fixtures from the city, coal from a large pool of suppliers, medical support from two doctors. Staff included the director and the matron (for the girls), cooks, overseers, teachers, farm directors, plant operation and maintenence ("Engineers"), night watchmen, dining room superintendents, office staff, nurse, laundress, seamstress, attendance and teamster (some of these positions were short lived). Outside services purchased included: blacksmithing, livery, team, plumbing, medical, carpenter work,

+

* Teaching staff in 1897 was more sparse and varied than the previous year.

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@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 ==Economic Impact==
-To many, giving Miles City the reform school, was considered "giving the dog a bone". But, over the years, the outside dollars brought economic stability. Direct employment for a dozen or so locals. An expanded customer base allowed merchants to operate at a level above what the locals could support. Although most histories of the school mention that it was "self-supporting" growing/raising most of its own food, at least in the early years, a lot of the food came from local merchants.
+To many, giving Miles City the reform school, was considered "giving the dog a bone" (compared to the State prison or insane asylum, perhaps). But, over the years, the outside dollars brought economic stability, through direct employment for a dozen or so locals and an expanded customer base which allowed merchants to stock inventory at a level above what the locals could support. Although most histories of the school mention that it was "self-supporting", growing/raising most of its own food, at least in the early years, a lot of the food came from local merchants. In 1897, total budget was about $16,600, which in today's terms is about $450.000.
 <table><tr><td valign="top" width="40%">
@@ Line 236: / Line 236: @@
 </table>
-In 1899, a spending authorization passed to catch up some unpaid bills for the previous three years. For some reason, very few payments were made in Sept 1896, including the payroll. Perhaps this took care of it, but if so, it must have been tough to wait 3 years to receive an entire month's wages.
+In 1899, a spending authorization passed to catch up some unpaid bills for the previous three years. For some reason, very few payments were made in Sept 1896, including the payroll. Perhaps this took care of it, but if so, it must have been tough to wait 3 years to receive an entire month's wages. No payments are listed in the regular reports for Dec 1896, or for Nov, Dec and half of Oct 1987. Note that the Hyltons were replaced in May 1897, so this appropriation contained two months of wages for each about 2 years after they stopped working for the school.
 <table>
 <tr><td>	A. J. Hylton	</td><td>	 $250.00 	</td><td>(	 $6,790.00 	)</td></tr>
@@ Line 277: / Line 277: @@
 <tr><td>	Armour Packing Co.	</td><td>	 $14.00 	</td><td>(	 $380.24 	)</td></tr>
 </table>
+Analysis of above data:
+No totala will be attempted, as the data isn't complete. It's value as a snapshot is great, however. Some deductions that can be made.
+* The director/matron, a husband/wife team (though paid separately) changed from the original A. J. Hylton and wife to B. C. White and wife in May 1897, with B. C. receiving full pay for May and his wife getting 3/4 pay for the month. (She must have either arrived a week later, or at least didn't start working for the first week.)
+* There seems to be a policy of spreading the purchases around, possibly to avoid charges of favoritism?
+* State funding, while inevitable, seems to have been sporadic. There are indications that budgets were overspent in both 1896 and 1897. In October 1897, the staff was paid, but not the director and his wife, nor any creditors. The previous year's report listed expenses for November, but not 1897's report. Both year's reports have partial month's payments listed for the previous December. And, as listed directly above, the legislature had to catch up missing payments up for up to 3 years.
+* Purchases include: electricity and light fixtures from the city, coal from a large pool of suppliers, medical support from two doctors. Staff included the director and the matron (for the girls), cooks, overseers, teachers, farm directors, plant operation and maintenence ("Engineers"), night watchmen, dining room superintendents, office staff, nurse, laundress, seamstress, attendance and teamster (some of these positions were short lived). Outside services purchased included: blacksmithing, livery, team, plumbing, medical, carpenter work,
+* Teaching staff in 1897 was more sparse and varied than the previous year.