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1894 The Montana State Reform School was established by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana, approved March 1, 1893. forty (40) acres of land as a site for the institution. This land is one mile eastward of the city, Asking/hoping for: *40 acres *Telegraphy *Printing *a law against helping inmates to escape ==Staff== *Director: [[A. J. Hylton]] *Matron, who has general supervision of building, tailoring, cooking, laundry and sick: [[Mrs. A. J. Hylton]] *Miss [[M. E. Vance]], Housekeeper and in charge of girls *Miss [[Alma Vance]], Tailoress and assistant in girl's department *[[Edward R. Maples]], boys teacher *[[Robert Wilcox]], in charge of teams and farm *[[Edward Cook]], in charge of laundry *[[Eph. K. Davis]], in charge of irrigation and carpentry *[[John E. Kelley]], in charge of general work *[[Samuel M. Davidson]], in charge of kitchen *[[J. Walter Howrath]], Night watchman The institution has no cells, no bars to the windows, no high fenced enclosure, nothing but the main building in which the inmates are kept, In one instance tho Director lias found it necessary to use artificial restraint to maintain the presence and control of an inmate. This inmate whose name need not be mentioned here, it is believed was far beyond the limit of twenty-one years at the time he was received in the institution, and it is believed was an adept in many species of crime at the time he was received. Still his presence in the institutiotj has been maintained, notwithstanding the attempts made to assist his escape by persons outside of the institution and living many miles distant from Miles City. The present buildings consist of the main school building of 16-inch brick walls, which is 100x50 feet, of three stories and an attic and cellar. The ground floor is used for work rooms, dining hall, bath room, wash room and kitchen; the second floor for ottices and Director's apartments and assembly room, and the third floor for dormitories and school rooms. The spacious attic is used as a storage room and gymnasium, and the cellar for the furnaces, supply rooms and fuel bins. The entire building is heated by five furnaces, with a thorough ventilation system in connection, and is lighted by electricity. An artesian well supplies soft water for kitchen and wash rooms and lavatories. The other buildings are a brick stable for four horses and hay loft, a frame ice house, a root house and wagon shed and the privies. A water right has been purchased for the forty acres of land; water is purchased yearly at $2.00 per inch from tlie Miles City Canal & Irrigating Co., insuring a good crop every year. The Director has made a wond-erful change with irrigation of the 35 acres, which were sage brush prairie in March, to a fertile garden spot in August, bearing a bountiful harvest of grain, vegetables and fruit. Every employe of the institution is a worker; there is no place for a drone, and the appearance of the buildings and grounds show that many a hard days work has been done since the school opened. ==EXPENDITURES== *Buildings $19,027 04 *Furniture and fixtures 4,961 44 *Improvements 1,403 86 *Incidental expenses 550 26 *Clothing and furnishing 1,325 63 *Supplies 2, 180 23 *Light and fuel 802 99 *Insurance 270 00 *Horses 440 00 *Salaries 3,909 69 *Total $34,871 14 PAID BY. *Appropriation $24,977 08 *First National Bank, Miles City : 2,018 34 *Merchants National Bank, Helena 2,129 52 *Montana " " 2,112 24 *American " " 1,596 90 *Helena " " 2,037 06 *Total $34,871 14 The Trustees found that in erecting a building and furnishing it to accommodate from sixty to seventj^-five inmates it was necessary even with the exorcise of the most rigid economy to expend nearly or quite all of the appropriation of $25,000 made for establishing the school. When the building was tinished and ready for occupancy the Trustees found themfselves without funds to maintain and conduct the school and after conferring with the Governor and other prominent citizens of the State, and at the solicitation of many of them, the Board of Trustees determined to open the school and to borrow money for its support until a future Legislature should make appropriations to provide for its maintenance. Loans have been made from five banks to the extent of $9,894.06, as is sliown in the tabulated statement herewith, There is also due to -Larson ^: Smith $700 for building a stable; and to the iiennett& Peck Heating & Ventilating Co. $1,200 for balance on heating plant. These contracts were awarded with the condition that these amounts should be paid when an appropriation for the same shouid be made by the State. The expense of starting the school has necessarily been heavy. There were horses, harness, wagons, farm implements, seeds and other articles to buy, which may be figured not only on the few months the school has been open, but on months and years to come. The crop of grain and vegetables raised may be very moderately estimated at worth $2,250, and much of it has been stored away and will last far into the next year. ==Recommendations== The Board is required by the law creating the institution to recommend to your Excellency the needs of the school so far as buildings and improvements are concerned. In this respect the Board makes the following recommendations: #The purchase of the forty acres adjoining the institution. ''(From the director:) I suggest the purchase of more land, the forty acres we now own is not enough to produce sufficient feed for the stock and vegetables for the school. With more land we could keep our own cows, thus supplying the inmates with milk, also raise our hay and feed, which we now have to buy. There is a farm joining us on the south, consisting of about eighty acres, which is for sale. This is a very desirable farm and would enable us to more thoroughly teach our boys practical agriculture and horticulture.'' #The erection of two additional buildings as advised by the Director. The Director is of the opinion that these will cost $12,500 each. #For fencing the land, $450. #The Trustees are of the opinion that the capacity of the present building will be reached by June 1, 1895, and with this in view, and estimating the needs of the school for two years, the Board believes it will require for the first year two thousand dollars ($2,000) per month; and for the second year twenty-five dollars ($2,500) per month, a total of $5-4,000. #The payment of the loans from banks already made, and also for the bills audited in December, $12,000 total. #The payment of claims tor stable $700 and balance of heating plant, $1,200. In concluding this report the Trustees desire to express through his Excellency, Governor Richards, their kindly appreciation of the support and assistance which the Board has at all times received from the Governor and the State officials in opening the institution and conducting it up to its present stage of efficiency and progress. Respectfully submitted, [[J. W. Strevell]] [[C. R. Miiddleton]] [[H. B. Wiley]] ==Residents== {| |Status||Boys||Girls |- |Number on roll December 1, 1894||27||6 |- |Number received by commitment||31||6 |- |Number pardoned by the governor||1|| |- |Released on age||1|| |- |Escaped||2|| |} The boys and girls committed were received during the months as shown by following schedule: {| |Month||Boys||Girls |- |April||6|| |- |May||7||3 |- |June||4|| |- |July||2|| |- |August||6||1 |- |September||5||1 |- |October||1|| |- |November||1|| |} I wish to call your attention to the detention of boys so long in county jails before bringing them to the school: many of them are compelled to associate with old and hardened criminals, thereby learning more crime in a few days confinement with such men than can be rooted out in years of religious training. Their ages were: {| |Age||Boys||Girls |- |Eight years||1||2 |- |Ten years||1||1 |- |Eleven years||3|| |- |Twelve years||2||1 |- |Thirteen years||3|| |- |Fifteen years||2||2 |- |Sixteen years||4|| |- |Eighteen years||3|| |- |Nineteen years||7|| |- |Twenty years||5|| |- |Total||31||6 |} ?? I respectfully call your attention to the fact that about one-fourth of the boys sent here are over twenty-one years of age. I feel sure that we have at least seven who are from twenty-one to twenty-five years old. ?? ==Farm== Showing the staple products of the farm: {| |Oats||3 3-5 tons |- |Corn||3 3-5 tons |- |Fodder||30 tons |} ===List of farming implements=== {| |Sulky breaking plow||1 |- |Small turning plow||1 |- |Road wagons||2 |- |Disk harrow||1 |- |Wagon harness||2 sets |- |Cutting box||1 |} The live stock * 5 horses * 7 hogs. * 2 cows which our friends are kind enough to let us milk for their feed. ==Garden== At the time Governor .1. E. Rickards proclaimed the school ready for admittance of inmates the entire forty acres were covered with sage brush. The first boy was received April 3rd, and with his help and two officers the land was cleared. Thirty-five acres were put in cultivation and five left for pasture; of the thirty-five acres under cultivation, five were in garden, five in oats, seven in potatoes, three in vines, eight in corn for fodder and re-sown in oats, and seven in lawns and yard. Of the seven acres set apart for lawns and yards, about five have been levelled and seeded in blue grass, vi^hich is making a good growth and will be a beautiful lawn next season; many shade and ornamental trees have been set out, of which one hundred and fifty are native pines. These are doing well and add much to tlie beauty of the grounds. In addition to the clearing and cultivation we made our main ditches and their many laterals for irrigating, for without water nothing could be raised, and with it all kinds of vegetables, as our garden tliis year has proven. ===List of garden tools=== Shovels 24 Spades 24 Mattocks 18 Hoes 24 I<V)rks 2 Rakes 24 Garden drill 1 ===PRODUCTS OF THE GARDEN=== *Asparagus (roots set out) 500 *Beans (green) — 300 lbs *Beets 6 tons *Cabbage 13 tons *Carrots 7.5 tons *Corn (roasting ears) 325 doz *Corn (dried) 200 lbs *Cucumbers (sliced) 600 lbs *Cucumbers (pickled) 5 bbls *Lettuce 15,000 heads *Leek 90 lbs *Melons (musk) 1,000 *Melons (water) 3,180 *Onions (green) 400 lbs *Onions (dry) 9,100 lbs *Parsnips 2,400 lbs *Potatoes (Irish) 12.75 tons *Peas (green) 720 lbs *Pumpkins 1,150 *Radish 600 lbs *Rhubarb (266 bunches set out April 16, 1894) l.5 tons *Rutabaga 1.5 tons *Squash 985 *Tomatoes 3 tons *Turnips 6 tons *Tomatoes (canned) 108 gals *Tomatoes (preserved) 24 gals *Tomato cutsup 90 qts *The plum and apple orchard set out in the spring is encouraging. *Five thousand strawberry plants were planted this fall, and more will be next spring. The currant and gooseberry bushes set out are very thrifty, and from these we will plant many cuttings next season. Our melons, grown on sod ground without cultivation and watered but twice, far excelled the widely known "Georgia melon," both in size and flavor. We are leveling the high places, where we found it difficult to irrigate during the summer, and bj^ seeding time next j'ear hope to have every foot of ground so water can reacli it. Each boy was given the chance to learn the application of water to the different plants and vegetables, and many learned rapidly and became quite expert. The products of our garden will keep us supplied with good, fresh vegetables until we can raise them again next season. ==Health== The general health of the school has been excellent, the doctor having been called but twice, and in these cases only for dysentery. For this we are indeed thankful as we are without a hospital, or even where sick boys could be kept other than the large dormitory. ==Tailor Shop== Amount of work done in tailor shop: Made. *Aprons 29 *Mittens 26 *Vests 51 *Coats 32 *Pants 51 *Mght shirts 63 *Night dresses 8 *Towels. — 6 doz *Pillow slips 150 *Sheets 150 *Shirts , 56 *Skirts 9 *Cloaks 4 *Dresses 15 *Drawers 6 *Curtains. 13 *Table cloths 15 *Napkins 60 *Flannel underwear 56 Miss Alma Vance has charge of this department assisted by four girls. Besides doing the regular making of all the clothing, they do the patching and darning for the institution. The clothing is of blue jeans cloth, each boy being provided with a suit for Sunday and others for every day. Their shirts are of "Hamilton stripe" cheviot. Underclothes are made for all. The boys have just completed a lai'ge root cellar, eighteen by tiftyone feet with a fourteen foot ell; the walls are of stone and the work has been highly complimented by good mechanics. The road leading from the buildings to tlie public road has been excavated one foot and filled with gravel, requiring about one thousand loads; this had to be hauled from Tongue River, a distance of one and three-fourth miles, but the benefit we are deriving from our good road is paying for tlie hard work. ==Laundry== The laundry work at present is being done by the boys in charge of Mr. E.Cook, in the room intended for the pantry to the kitclien. We are sadly in need of a room for this work, also for drying the clotlies in bad weatlier. ==Food== The food is plain and wholesome, consisting of vegetables, meats, molasses, bread, coffee, cake, pudding and pie: melons and fruits in season, thereby giving variety to the "bill of fare" as often as practicable. The kitchen is in charge of Mr. S. IST. Davidson, who is assisted by three boys, and the cooking for the entire school is done by them. The dining room and housework is done by the boys under the supervision of Miss M. E. Vance. ==SCHOOLS== Our schools are run on tlie "half day" plan, wliile one-half are in school the other half are doing tlie necessary work around the institution and "vice versa." The very small children are in school all day. The hours are from 7 to 11 a. m. and from 12:30 to 4:30 p. m. and from 6 to 7:30 p. m. The branches taught in the public schools of the State are tauglit here. At 1) a. m. and 3 p. m. we have fifteen minutes recess in which the children obtain rest and exercise. From 11 to 12:30 for dinner and play, and from 4:30 to (5 p. m. supper and play. It is our intention to make a large gymnasium in the attic of the building and equip it for a regular course of gymnastics. ==RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIONS== This consists during the week of the Sabbath school lesson; each morning a portion of the Scripture bearing on the lesson is read and explained. In the evening, before leaving the school room, all join in reciting the Lord's prayer and at their beds kneel in silent prayer. The Sabbath school lesson is taught by myself and Mrs. Hylton from 10:30 to 12 a. m. Sundays. Father Van Der Broeck, of Miles City, lias taken charge of the Catholic boys, and will instruct them in their catechism. I am proud to say the conduct of the boys and girls in general has been good, appearing to appreciate kind and generous treatment, and are respectful, industrious and obedient. As a further incentive to good conduct I hope the Trustees will be given full power to release inmates on "furlough" or "ticket of leave" after they have served one year or more of good conduct. This will encourage 'them to strive for a furlough and will be a great help in the discipline of the school. Many of them were discouraged when admitted, thinking they would have to remain until they became of age. This being true, some would have to stay ten or twelve years. ==TRADES RECOMMENDED== #Printing—With an appropriation of five Imndred dollars we can equip an office with a "hand press," six cases and type for same. This will enable twelve boys to be taught four and one-half hours each day in the art of printing. #Shoe Making—Three hundred dollars will supply us with benches and tools so we can make our own shoes. #Telegraphy—One hundred and fifty dollars will enable us to set up an office in whicli ten boys can be taught. It must be remembered that the majority of boys received in Reform Schools come from the cities, and do not like, nor can they be taught to like horticulture and agriculture and vice versa with the country boy, therefore it is much better to give them a trade which tliey can follow after leaving the school, if not, our work is in vain. ==IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED== #Fencing—The fence on the north and west of the farm is in need of repair, and I suggest this be taken down and a nice picket fence be built, using the wire and posts of the old fence for the cross fence. This can be done for about $2 per rod or four hundred and fifty dollars. #Cottages—At the present rate of commitments this building will reach its capacity by June, 1895. This will compel us to build or reject any committed after that time. With an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars we can erect and furnish two cottages, one for girls and the other for large boys. In the girls department could be rooms for the Director and family and lady employes. In the boys' rooms for officers. This would give us the present building for small boys, a general dining room, chapel, shoe shop, printing office, tailor shop, telegraph office and rooms for employees. With the aid of one or two mechanical instructors all this work can be done by the boys, thus teaching them trades by which they can earn an honest living after leaving the school. Had we brick clay close by the school and were equipped for it we could make our own bricks, but these, I understand, can be purchased at about $7.75 per 1,000. With heartfelt thanks to you honorable Trustees for your earnest support and appreciation of the work done by myself and wife, and to the many friends of Miles City, Deer Lodge and Anaconda who have so generously contributed papers and magazines to the boys and girls, and with full appreciation of the good done by the W. C. T. U. and ministers of Miles City, also to the faithful employees who have labored earnestly and patiently in the work. I close this, my first, report. Very truly,<br> A. J. Hylton,<br> Director.
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State Reform School, 1894 Report
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