The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1930-03-21
SURVEY
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shed located on a 2O-acre tract of
fertile land one mile west of Boze-
man. The farm can accommodate |
20 inmates but the average is
about II; in winter it swells to
10 and then drops down to eight |
during the summer.
Today there are II inmates at
the farm of whom one is a woman
and the IL men are utterly incap-
able of taking care of themselves.
The operating cost in 1929 was
$4,2S7 or $354.75 per capita.
Galatians commissioners favor
direct operation of the farm rath-
er than on a contract basis. The
latter system was followed for
years but was abandoned several
years ago. The present regime of
direct control has been found more
economical.
Frank L. Benepe, Jr., chairman
of the board of commissioners,
firmly believes the poor farm sys-
tenn is the only logical solution to
the problem of caring for the poor.
He can conceive of no better meth
cd either from the standpoint of
the indigents or the county.
Up in the northern part of the
state, in Valley county, there Is
no poor farm. During recent
years, unfortunate elderly folk
have been provided for in a coun-
ty hospital. Exact cost of provid-
ing for the poor is not known as
the county sick and the county in,
digents were under the same roof
and administered under the same
fund. Early this year, however,
the county commissioners con-
tracted with the Deaconess hos
pital of Glasgow to care for the
poor and sick of the county, eff
fective March 1.
Phillips county, next door to
Valley, is dissatisfied with its
poor farm system.
Its farm is entirely too small.
Today there are five inmates ana
1t is filled to capacity. To care
for others in straitened circum-
stances, the commissioners have
been compelled to give meritorious
applicants orders on Malta bust
ness houses-a system unsatisfac-
tory to both donor and recipient.
During an eight-month period in
1929-the only figures available
the county disbursed S4,27O to
poor inhabitants who could not be
cared for at the farm. 1t amount
ed to approximately $40 per CAPT
ia per month. For the same peri
Cd, the poor farm budget was
$4,000.
Forced by circumstances to care
for the poor by the two opposing
systems, the Phillips commission
ers unanimously favor the DOOR
farm method. They are hoping
to enlarge the farm and thus be
free to abandon the practice of
giving allowances. Only through
poor farm, they say, can the
poor be satisfactorily and econom-
ically cared for.
Judith Basin county in central
Montana not only has no poor
farm but is not considering estab-
fishing one. Applicants for coun.
ty aid state their case before a
board of applicators which, after
investigation, determines the ex-
.. tent of county aid merited in each
case. This system has been sat
lsfactory, to date, officials say
and will be continued.
Missoula county apparently has
solved the question of economical
operation of its poor farm; per-
haps the fact it has been in exist
ence since 1886 has something tC
DO with its success. Average cost
per capita per annum is only $244..
% or approximately 81 cents pei
inmate per day. Operating cost
last year was $6,641.90; year in
and year out there is an average
, OF 50 inmates at the farm.
The commissioners are eminent.
! ly satisfied with the present sys.
! : tenn and openly challenge any per-
son to devise a better. Like Gal.
latin county, they formerly let q
maintenance and operation con.
tract but, since 1917, have beer
: conducting the farm on the direc-
: control method which, they have
found, is much better and consid.
! erably cheaper.
incidentally, one Missoula coun
W official discussed the problem
OF caring for some counties pool
which faces sparsely populated
, counties. Rather than continue