The record-union., 1891-11-21
A CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred aud Its
Adjoining Farms

IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
Robert a. and Neal D. Barker assoeIated
themselves with William Mckay, all Of Oak.
land, with view OF searching ont n srit,t,.
location In which 10 engage in the prortab,a
occupation Of fruitCrowing. After visiting
n!Ally localities, they decided on the Capay
valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract az
TGncrea.
negotiations were opened with the Capav
alley Land Company. owning the tract in
olestion. With W. IT. Mills. thu 7eDsral
Agent of that company, they ARRANGED eor thu
purchase of about eco acres of foothiIl land
This being more than they had thourh. oP
taxing for their own use, they spoke tn q
numoer OF friends about it, with the res,,ls
tnat the tract was divided among the foIfovz.
Ing people: B. L. Rickok, 40 acres: W.T..
farnett, 20 acres; N. T. Greathead. 20 acres,
MRS L. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay, 90
acres; N ID. Barker, 90 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. p. Brownlee, 20 acres: E. II. Has,
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker 10 acres: A. w.
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly. O aeres.
30 iar this had been merely a private yens
eQ,D
talking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased, 1t was found that so many
more would like to join it than the area of tba
purchase would admit of, that ii was sug-
gested on all hands, ''Why not get some mora
land and divide it up in the same way?'
Then followed the idea of a stock company to
take hold of larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation Of the whole of it, after subdtvidtno
IL according to the requirements OF the sub-
ecrlbers A provisional board was formed a
prospectus issued, and finally. on the 5th Of
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Coll
onization and improvement Company was
ouly registered and proceeded to business
with Inc following officers: President. VIII.
lam Mckay; Vice-President M p. Brown.
Dlrectors-H. G. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
X. A Barker; Secretary and General Manager,
Neal d. Barker; Solicitor, C. E. Shook; Treas.
nrer. First National Bank of Oakland
Inc 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 waa
the means of saving between $4,000 and
$4,000 to the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then
Inc IDEAS which the prospectus set forth
have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uniuter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtingly
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 drst season, some 40, 900 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines viii bo
pfanteo.
The satisfactory working Of this scheme has
had the effect OF attracting considerable at
tention to the work of the Colony Comnanv
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 a 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 50
long neglected is a puzzle TO everv 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
neutrality-suspicious., apricots Bartlett pears
prunes, figs, raisin grapes etc, while nlono
poth SIDES OF the avenues, throughout tina
tract, walnuts viii throw their graceful shade.
A considerable number of citrus trees are also
being set out; quite sufficient number tn
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 cornpnDv
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 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 beautifv
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 dilirent
a wis nVrN fNeif a<,F,
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.
petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to ac-
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract as n
county road, and TO build bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order to give tha
settlers on the east side OF the creek nccess tn
Tancred Staten. The Tancred colonists ara
quite willing to give the necessary right OF
way, and are very desirous Of having bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along botrl
sides OF tho stream. II is thought that it
would be a very wise expenditure OF public
money TO grant them this very necessary i'm
proveTnent, 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
Rntly, every induceGent should be held forth.
The following IS list Of the principal men,
bers OF the Tancred Colony, with ,aie number
of acres owned by each. and a 1att worthy of
mention is that in each contract or deed is
sued by the Colony Company there is a pro.
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
be manufactured or sold on the land. The a,-
parent success OF the enterprise shows that
the ideas and plans OF the colony, as set forth
practicable: c. L. Hull. Berkeley, acres; w.
r Han1mon, Oakland, IA acres; @. S. Kasson,
San Francisco, II acres; Jos. Barker. / o acres;
A W. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont. 8 acres; n. r..
Greathead, . acres; r.. 9. GTeathead Oakland
10 acres; r.. A. Barker, San Francisco, 10
acres; ~. d. Barker, iancred 10 acres; DIR. k
Favor, San Francisco 27 acres; j. Z. Browniee
Kincardne, Ont, 8 acres; W. T. Barnett
Berkeley, S acres; NJ. 7. Brown, 10 acres;
Chas. Brook, Sr., Oakland, 10 acres; W. C.
Boutelle, Berkeley, 90 acres; Mrs. I. A. Crelin,
Oakland, 8 acres; C.. H Peach, Tancred
acres: II. G. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; ]. Van.
sSone Winnipeg, 10 acres; e. A. Vanstone,
Tapctcd, 3 acres E. Wadsworth, Sacramento,
s ceres; NJ. A Thomas, Oakland c acres:
Ianses Graham, San Francisco, II acres; a
STARK, IL acres; ]. Stark, 10 acres Mrs. III.
VrooInan . acres; g. E Shook, 10 acres C.
II. Cfreathead IL acres; VIM. Mckay, 5 acres;
Mrs. VIM Mckay, Oakland, 5 acres: Mrs. y,
G. Wooiey, Brooklyn, y. ", 10 acres; Mrs.. II.
93eckley, Oakland, 8 acres; l. A. Marriott,
acres: T. c. Harrison Tancred, 8 acres The
land reserved by the Colony Company, in
yas,aclu toyvnRite consists of 81 anraa