The record-union., 1891-05-12
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy it-Growers in a Pretty
YolO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.


themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak
land, with view of searching out a suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation OF fruit-growing After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
valley, 1olo County, and the Rhodes tract
at Tancred
Negotiations were opened with the Capay
Valley Land Company, owning the tract in
question. With w. III. Mills, the General
Agent of that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about 22O acres of foothill land
This being more than they had thought of
taking for their own use, they spoke to a
number of friends about 1t, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow
ing people: B. l. Hickok, 40 acres; w. r.
Barnett, 20 acres; n. T. Greathead, 20 acres;
Mrs. l.. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay, 90
acres; n. ID. Barker, go acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. p. Brownlee, 90 acres; E. H. Has
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, ] 0 acres.
So far this had been merely a private ven
ture OF the gentlemen above named, but in
talking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased it was found that so many
more would like to join it than the area of the
purchase would admit of, that it was sug-
geSted on all hands, 'Why not get some more
land and divide it up in the same way?"
Then followed the idea of q stock company TO
take hold of larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation of the whole of it, after subdividing
1t according to the requirements of the sub
scribers. A 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; Vice-President, NJ P. Brown;
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
R. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manage
Neal d. Barker; Solicitor c. E. Shook; Treas
urer, First National Bank of Oakland
The balance of the tract, 373 acres, was pur-
chased. A contract was entered into for the
purchase OF a 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
have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uninter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtinlyg
have become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged TO set out all their lands in
fruit trees, etc.. the first year. Consequently
In this, the first season, some 10000 trees
and between 20, 900 and 10000 vines will be
planted.
The satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tention to the work of the Colony Company.
and number of people are now desirous of
joining in with them. An additional 200
acres have been added to the sixty acres
originally purchased.
For the company is predicted very bright
future, as well as for the beautiful valley in
which 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 it, 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
varieties peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears,
prunes, 1gs, raisin grapes, etc., while along
both sides of the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their grateful shade
a considerable number 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
d. Barker, General Manager Of the company,
resides on the tract, and to his care is to be
ascribed much of the success of the venture
Mention should be made of the town-site
about which there is pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by more
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 it from time to time as many
of the beauties and curiosities of tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
search and a wise expenditure of money. 1t
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, ana to build a bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order to give the
settlers on the east side of the creek access to
Tancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
quite willing to give the necessary right of
way, and are very desirous of having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that it
would be a very wise expenditure of public
money to grant them this 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
pleasantly, 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 of the enterprise shows that
the ideas and plans of the colony, as set forth