The record-union., 1891-05-04
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 view of searching out q suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation OF fruit-growing. After visiting
many localities they decided on the Capay
| valley, iolo County, and the Rhodes tract
at Tancred
Negotiations were opened with the Capay
Valley Land Company, owning the tract in
question. With w. H. Mills, the General
Agent Of that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about 220 acres of foothiII land.
This being more than they had thought of
taking for their own use, they spoke TO q
number of friends about it, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow
ing people: b. L. Hickok, 40 acres; w. T.
Barnett, 20 acres; n. I. Greathead, 20 acres:
Mrs, L. Greathead, 90 acres; w Mckay, 90
acres; n. ID. Barker, 20 acres; II. a. Barker
20 acres; j. P. Brownlee, 20 acres; E. H Has
lett, 1oacres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, O acres
SO far this had been merely 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 1t was sug-
gested on all hands, "Why not get some more
| land and divide 1t up in the same way?"
Then followed the idea of stock company to
take hold OF larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation of the whole of 1t, after subdividing
1t according to the requirements OF the sub
scribers. provisional board was formed,
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. G. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
h, A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager,
Neal D. Barker; Solicitor, c. f. Shook; Treas
urer, First National Bank of Oakland.
The balance of the tract, 373 acres was pur-
chased. y contract was entered into for the
purchase of q 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
have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uninter-
Tupted. 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 10000 and 10000 vines will be
planted.
The satisfactory working OF this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tcntion to the work of the Colony Company
. q nf Il,
Joining in with them. An additional goo
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 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, figs, 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 n 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
/
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 1t from time to time as many
I]F& . .sg. -...-
| shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
| search and wise expenditure of money. 1t
is not expected that Tancred will ever be
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 bridge across
/ Cache Creek al this point, IN order to give the
] settlers the east side of the creek access to
Tancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
quite willing to give the necessary right OF
F.! 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 1t
would besa very wise expenditure of public
money to grant them this very necessary i'm
provement as the operations of such COIN
panies are of widespread benefit to the whole
| county ana SJilto. Inc aJJfaCtlOnS ana 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 q list of the principal MEM
hers 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 a pro-
| vision that no intoxicating liquor shall ever
| be manufactured or sold on the land. The APP
parent success of the enterprise shows that
| the ideas and plans of the colony, as set forth
| in the prospectus some time ago, are not i'm
practicable: C. T. Hull, Berkeley, acres; w.
/ p. Hammond, Oakland, IA acres; c. s. Kas-
son. San Francisco, / 1 acres; JOS. Barker, 10
acres; y. w. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont 5 acres;
! n. T. Greathead, acres; r. 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 Brownlee, Kincardine, Ont, 0 acres; w.
T. Barnett, Berkeley, acres; NJ. p. Brown,
10 acres; Chas. Brook, Sr., Oakland, 0 acres;
| w. C. Boutelle, Berkeley, 20 acres; Mrs. Il.
! A. Crellin, Oakland, acres; G. H. Peach,
Tancred, acres; II. G. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres;
j. Vanstone, Winnipeg, o acres; L. a. Van
stone, Tancred, 5 acres; L. WadswoTth, Sac
ranlente, 5 acres; NJ. a. Thomas, Oakland, 6
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, IL
! acres; A. Stark, 12 acres; ]. Stark, 10 acres;
| Mrs. NJ. Vrooman, 5 acres; G. L. Snook 10
acres; c. T.. Greathead, IL acres; VIM. Nc
Kay, 8 acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland, 8
acres; Mrs. f. c. Wooley, Brooklyn, n. Y, 10
| acres. Mrs II Reckiey. Oakland. 5 acres: L.