Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-13
now "THE PATCH" MUST WAIT
MISS KATE ADAMS CANNOT BEGIN
WORK As EXPECTED.
The Wealthy and Talented Young
Woman Who Is to Do Home Mis-
sion Labor Detained at
Home by Illness.

Miss Kate Adams, OF Topeka, who is
taking up the work of a deaconess in the
Episcopal church, was to have reached
Kansas City yesterday to look over her
work among the poor Of 1.-THE Patch" and
kindred spots, but on account of illness she
is detained at her home in Topeka, and a
letter says she may not be able to do any
thing in her work this season. Miss Adams
belongs to one Of the prominent families
of Kansas and her determination to enter
upon work among the poor of the cities
is an event that is attracting much atten-
tion among the many who know her. She
mas decided to make her field Of operation
Tor time, at least, in THE Patch, THE
Horseshoe and the remnant of "Hells
Half Acre" down in the West bottoms
Miss Adams is daughter of Captain
Dan Adams, who lived for many years at
Manhattan, where he accumulated in busi-
ness a considerable fortune. He was a
leading citizen of that section of Kansas
Later he removed to Topeka. where he was
prominently connected with various i'm
portant financial ventures and was regard
ed as an exemplary citizen. Miss Kate
was student and graduate OF the Topeka
high school and later studied and gradu-
ated from Bethany college. She was of
relglouS turn OF mind, and during her girl
hood was an active worker in the Sunday
scnooI ana charitable organizations main
tanned by Bishop Vail in connection with
christ Episcopal church of Topeka.
When E. n. Morrill, was inaugurated as
governor of Kansas he made her his stem
ographer. and she was with him in the
and announced that she had decided TO go
TO Philadelphia and take a course of in
structi9n TO fit her for work as a deaconess
there includes practical work among the
dark places of the City OF Friends. She
had been there until the present summer
vacation, when she returned to Kansas and
placed herself at the disposal of Bishop
MjIspaugh, and decided to spend her vaca-
fRV L.
the conditions there so that her actual
labors one year hence might be started
well and made effective from the beginning.
Miss Adams knowledge of THE Patch"
and the other dark places down near the
state line was CLEANED from Miss Lucy
Dcugherty, daughter of Rev. James G.
DOUG herty, of the CONGREGATIONAL church
of Kansas City, Kas., who has put in a
year of work among the poor Of that part
of the city. She and Miss Adams were
schoolmates, and are close personal friends.
IL was Miss Dougherty who received a let
ter from Miss Adams physician, saying
that she was i'll. and it was quite probable
she would be unable to begin her work
among the poor this season. 1t will be
time soon for her TO return to her studies
at Philadelphia 1t will be with regret
that all of the workers in the schools down
near the state line will learn that Miss
Adams, tSis & help Will VII not be given the work
a modest competence, and expects to de-
vote her fortune; as well as her time, TO
the work for the benefit OF the unfortunate.
THE Patch" which will be the first
field Miss Adams will attempt to cultivate,
lies between James street and the river
avenue in Kansas City, kas. There is
space about equal to two ordinary blocks
Of ground that teens with life. It IS COW
cred with cheap houses crowded closely to-
gether, set in all sorts of irregular shapes.
The winding, narrow and dirty alleys give
scarce room for one to pass along, and
during the day they are crowded with lit
tie children at play.
1t is peopled with foreigners-Poles. Hun
Il AL else Tb ESis S5JiE TI Tture x are
unknown tongue to most of them. It is
IN un-American settlement, an element
that left alone never would be assmilated
and become American, for they never at
tempt to mix with the outside word, and
about the only time the outside world ever
to mix with the people of The
Patch is during a campaign. when votes
are needed. Scores of the men have taken
put papers who have no idea Of what the
act meant, no conception of its import
lnce or the rare boon It conferred upon
them.
employed about the packing houses and
usually have money for all their needs. !
They live in filth and squalor. One big |
and oftimes a dozen boarders. The walls |
have hunks arranged for sleeping. They |
Eat. cook, sleep and live all in one room,
THE Patch" is the one place to which |
The gaze of economists and the humani- |
laIian workers has long been directed. II |
may be reserved to the labors OF Miss Ad- |
rms 10 carry into ITS squalOr lne ueilshts
)f civilization and the enlightenment Of |
citizenship and education.
THE Horseshoe" lies along the curve Of |
he Kaw river west OF Fowler's packing /
louse. 1t is densely populated with poor |
white and colOred people and offers an /
INVITING field, possibly less difficult than |
The Patch" The historic area known /
Is "HeTs Half Acre" a title well earned /
n years gone by, lies on the Missouri side /
II the state line. north Of Ninth street /
pack TO the railroad tracks that skirt the |
nj ig under reign
aw than in former years, but is a dark
mot of the city vet.