The record-union., 1891-05-07
A CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
YOlO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

Robert A. and Neal d. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all OF Oak
land, with a view OF searching out a suitable
location in which to engage in the proatable
occupation OF fruit-growing. After visiting
many localities, they decided ON the Capay
Valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract
| at Tancred
Negotiations were opened with the Capay
valley Land Company, owning the tract i'm
question. With w. II. Mills, the General
Agent OF that company, they arranged for the
| purchase of about 22o acres of foothiI land
This being more than they had thought Of
taking for their own use, they spoke TO q
number of friends about il, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow
/ ing people: Is. l.. Hickok, 40 acres; w. II.
Barnett, 90 acres; n. Il. Greathead, 20 acres:
Mrs. l.. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay. 90
acres; n. d. Barker 20 acres; r. A. Barker.
20 acres; ]. p. Brownlee, 90 acres; L. II. Has
lett 10 acres; Joseph Barker. 10 acres: A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly. / O acres
So far this had been merely private ven
tnre 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 1t was sug-
gested on all hands, ''Why not get some more
| land and divide it up in the same way?D
Then followed the idea of stock compauyto
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, Wnl-
lam Mckay; gice-President, NJ p. Brown;
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
r. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manage
| Neal D. Barker; Solicitor, c. f. Snook 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 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 ia some
cases having more than doubled since then
The ideas which the prospectus set forth
! have been but slightly modified and the
progress OF the company has been unfnter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtinlvg
| have become enthusiastic, and almost all the
| members arranged to set out all their lands in
iruit trees, ETC., the first year. Consequently
| In this, the first season. some 10000 trees
and between 10000 and 80, 900 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 a number of people are now dcSirous Of
Joining in with them. An additional 900
acres have been added to the sixty acres
originally purchased.
For the company is predicted a very bright
| future, as well for the beautiful valley in
which their operations are conducted. How
this marvellous little garden has come to be so
long neglected is puzzle To every Dne 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
varieties peaches, apricots, Bartlett. pears.
| prunes, 1lgs, raisin grapes, etc. while along
| poth 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
| ID. 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 toyyn-site
| about which there is a 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 1t from time to time as many
/ OF the beauties and cuuiosities CT tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by dilgent
| search and a wise expenditure of money. 1t
is not expected that TancTed Will eEer be q
large and busy city, but it is thought thatit
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 q
| county road, ana to build a bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order 10 gTve tho
settlers on the cast side of the creek access to
Tancred Station. The Tancred coloniSts are
| quite willing to give the necessary right CT
| way, and are very deSirous of having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
! sides of the stream. II is thought that it
would be Il very wise expenditure Of public
| money TO grant them this very necessary i'm
proyement, the operations OF such colz-
1
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 a list of the principal men,
| bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
| of acres owned by each, and 81 fact worthy of
mention is that in each contract or deed is
| sued by the Colony Company there is q pro-
! vision that no intoxicating liquor shah ever
| be manufactured or sold on the land. 9Ihe ap-
| parent success of the enterprise shows that
the ideas and plans of the colony, as seDforth
| in the prospectus some time ago are not iun-
practicable: c. II. Hull, Berkeley, acres; w.
P. Hammond, Oakland, II acres; c. s. Kas-
| son, San Francisco, l 1 acres JOS Barker, 10
acres; a. w. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, s acres;
| n. 7. Greathead, acres; f. G. Greathead.
Oakland, 10 acres; r. a Barker, San Fran
cisco, 10 acres; n. d. Barker, Tancred, 10
acres DR.. K. Favor, San Francisco, 27 acres;
J. p Brownee, Kincardine, Ont, acres; W.
T. Barnett, Berkeley, 8 acres; N. II. Brown
! 0 acres; Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland L o acres;
w. c. Boptelle, Berkeley, 90 acres Mrs T,
A. Crellin, oakln.>d, 5 acres; C. Il. Peach,
Tancred, acres; II. G.. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres;
j. VanstOne Winnipeg, 10 acres; p. A. Van
stone Tancred, acres; L. Wadsworth, Sac
| ramento, acres; NJ. A. Thomas Oakland, 6
acres; James Graham, San Francisco IL
acres; a. Stark, 12 acres; j. Stark, 10 acres;
Mrs. NJ. Vrooman, 5 acres; c. E. Spook, 10
acres; G. I. Greathead, - acres; W-m. Me-
Kay, 5 acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay Oakland, >
acres; Mrs. f. c. Wooley, Brooklyn. N. Y, 10
acres; Mrs. II. Beckley, Oakland, s. acres; (.
A. Marriott, 5 acres; j. G. Harrison. Tancred