The record-union., 1891-09-07
A CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

N THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
Robert A. and Neal D. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, ali of Oak
iantt, with view of searching out r. suitabIe
location IN which to engage in the proftabIs
occupation OF fruitgrowing. After VISITING
many localities, they decided on the Capav
valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract at
Tancred.
NegotlationS were opened with the Capay
alley Land Company, owning the tract in
q1estion. With w. H. Mills. the Genera,
agent OF that company, they arranged for ths
purchase of about 220 acres Of foothiu land
lhis being more than they had thought of
taxing for their own use, they spoke to a
number OF friends about it. with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow.
ing people: B. L. Rickok, 40 acres. w. II
Earnett, 20 acres; n. I. Greathead. 90 aereS
Mrs. L. Greathead, 90 acres; W. McKav. %
acres; n. d. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. P. BrOwnlee, go acres; E. II. Has.
ie''' ~ acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; \. w.
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, l @ acres
30 lar this had been merely private ven.
ture of the gentlemen above named. bYt :,
talking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased, it was found that so MANY
more would like to join ii than the area of tho
purchase would admit Of that il was sur-
gested on all hands, "Why not get some mora
iahd and divide it up in the same wayqn
Then followed the idea of a stock company to
take hold OF larger tract and arrange for tina
cultivation of the whole of it, after subdividino
IL ltaccordlrg to the requirements of the sub.
ccrlbers. provisional board was formed. a
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th OF
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col.
onization and Improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded to business
with the following officers: President, Will
lam Mckay; Vicc-President, NJ. P. Brown.
Directors-H. C. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
r. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager
Neal ID. Barker; Solicitor, c. E. Shook; Treas
urer, First National Bank of Oakland.
The balance of the tract, 373 acres, was mr.
chased. A contract was entered into for tha
purchase OF large number of fruit trees
vines, etc. This early purchase of trees was
the means OF saving between $4,000 and
$4,000 TO the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then,
The ideas which the prospectus set forth
nave been but slightly modified and the
progress OF the company has been uninter-
rupted. Those who went into 1t doubtfngly
have become enthusiastic, and almost all tbe
members arranged TO set out all their lands in
fruit trees, etc, the first year Consequently
In thlS, the hrst season, some 40, 900 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines will be
pranreu.
Inc satisfactory working OF this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tenton to the work of the Colony Company.
ana number Of people are now desirous OF
joining in with them. An additional goo
acres have been added to the sixty acres
originally purchased.
For the company is predicted a very bright
future as well as for the beautiful valley In
winch their operations are conducted How
this marvellous little garden has come to be so
long neglected is a puzzle to every one who
has visited 1t, but one thing is very sure, and
that is that this neglect will never again be
felt in the valley
The fruits set out are mostly of the standard
neutrality-suspicious., apricots, Bartlett pears.
prunes dgs, raisin grapes etc. while alonr
both sides Of the avenues, throughout the
tract, wainuts will throw their graceful shade.
A Observation-Disclosures OF citrus trees are also
being set out; quite a sufficient number to
demonstrate that these fruits can be success
fully grown in the valley, about which the
colonists appear to have no doubt, provided
proper care is given to the young trees. Neal
ID. Barker, General Manager of the company.
resides on the tract, and to his care is to be as
cribed much of the success of the venture.
Mention should be made of the towu-site
about which there is pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed bv moro
ambitious places. A small park of some three
acres has been laid out right in the center of
the town. This park it is proposed to beautify
by planting in 1t from time to time as MANY
Of the beauties and curiosities of tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
search and wise expenditure OF money. It
is not expected that Tancred will ever be a
large and busy city, but it is thought that it
can be made very pleasant little place to
dwell In.
a petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to ac-
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract as a
county road, and to build bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order to give the
settlers on the east SIDE of the creek access to
Gancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
quite willing TO give the necessary right of
way, and are very desirous of having q bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides Of the stream. 1t is thought that 1t
would be a very wise expenditure of public
W grant jIlCiu lDiS very necessary I'M
provement, as the operations of such COM
panies are of widespread benefit to the whole
county and State. The attractions and com.
forts of the cities are well known, but to those
who are willing to settle on the land and show
that the country also affords attractions and
comforts and ways of making money pleas
antly, every inducement should be held forth
The following is list of the principal men,
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
Of acres owned by each, and fact worthy OF
mention is that in each contract or deed is
sued by the Colony Company there is pro.
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
be manufactured or sold on the land The ap-
parent success o the enterprise shows that
the ideas and plans of the colony, as set forth
in the prospectus some time ago, are not inn
practicable: c. I. Hull, Berkeley acres; W.
p. Harmon, Oakland, Ii acres; G. S. Kasson
San Francisco, IL acres; Jos. Barker, o acres;
A w. Kelly, Kincardine Ont, s acres; n. T.
Greathead 3 acres; r. G. Greathead Oakland
10 acres; r. A. Barker, san Francisco, 10
acres; N. d. Barker Tancred, 10 acres; DR.. K.
Favor, san Francisco, 27 acres; j. P. Brownlee.
Kincardine, Ont, 8 acres; w. T. Barnett,
Berkeley, 5 acres; NJ. P. Brown, 10 acres;
Chas. Brook, Sr., Oakland, 10 acres; w. @.
Boutelle, Berkeley, 20 acres; Mrs. I. A. Crelin
Oakland, 3 acres; c. Fl. Peach, Tancred,
acres: H. c. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres: J. Van
stone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; e. A. Vanstone
Tancred, 5 acres; E. Wadsworth, Sacramento
5 acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland, 6 acres
James Graham, San Francisco, IL acres; A
Stark, 12 acres; j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ
Vroomsn, 5 acres; c. E. Shook, 10 acres; G.
T. Greathead, 12 acres; VIM. Mckay, 5 acres;
Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland, 8 acres; Mrs. E.
C. Wooley, Brooklyn, N. V, 10 acres; Mrs. II.
BeckIey, Oakland, 5 acres; I. A. Marriott, 5
acres; j. G. Harrison, Tancred, acres. The
land reserved by the Colony Company, in.
dingclu townsite, consists of 81 acres.
fai5-tfd&w