The record-union., 1891-02-27
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley -Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
Robert A. and Neal D. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak
land, with view OF searching out suitable
location Ill which TO engage in the profitable
occupation of fruit-growine. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, Yo!o 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 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 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. r. Greathead. 20 acres:
Mrs. L. Gfeathead, go acres; w. Mckay, 20
acres; n ID. Barker, 20 acres; Il. A. Barker,
20 acres; j. ?. Browniee, 20 acres; Z. 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 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 suggested on all hands. "Why not get
some more 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 subdividlng it according to the re-
quirements of the subscribers. A provisional
board was formed, prospectus issued, and
finally, on the 5th of Juue $50. the West
ern Cooperative Colonization and Improve
ment Company was duly registered and pro-
ceeded TO business, with the following officers:
President, William Mckay; Vice-President.
NJ. Z. Brown. Directors-H. C. Ellis, Charles
brooke and Il. a. Barker; Secretary and Cen
erai Manager, Neal d. Barker; Solicitor, c. E.
Shook; Treasurer First National Bank of
Oakland.
The balance of the tract, 373 acres, was pur-
chased. A 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
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-
rupted. Those VINO went into it doubtingly
nave become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged to set out all their land in
fruit trees, etc., the first year. Consequently
in this, the first season, some &c, 900 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines will be
planted.
The satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable atten-
ton to the work of the Colony Company, and
number of people are now desirous of Join
ing in with them. An additional 600 acres
have been added to the sixty acres originally
purchased.
For the company is predicted very bright
future, as well for the beautiful valley in
which their operations are conducted How
thls 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
Varicties-peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears
prunes, figs, raisin grapes, ETC., while along
ooth SIDES OF the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their graceful shade
being set out; quite u sufficient number to
demonstrate that these fruits can be success
fully grown in the valley, about which the
coionists 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 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 beautify
by planting i'll it from time to time as many
of the beauties and cmiosities of tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
search and q 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 a very pleasant little place TO
dwell in.
y petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to ac-
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, as a
county read, and to build u 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. II is thought that il
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 ana show
that the country also affords attractions and
| comforts and ways OF making money pleas
| The following is a list of the principal men,
bers ofthe Tancred Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and a fact worthy of
| mention is that in each contract deed is
i sued by the Colony Company there is a pro-
| vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
/ be manufactured or sold on the land The
| apparent success of the enterprise shows
! that the ideas and plans of the col
ony, as set forth in the prospectus some
| time ago, are not impracticable: C. T..
| Huh. Berkeley, 8 acres; w. p. Harmon, Oak
land, ii acres; c. S. Kasson, San Francisco,
| II acres; Jos. Barker, 10 acres; A. w. Kelly,
/ kincardine, Ont. 5 acres; n. L. Greathead, 3
acres; R. G. Greathead, Oakland I O acres; r.
! A. Barker, San Francisco, 10 acres; n. ID. Bar
ker, Tancred, 10 acres; DR.. X. Favor san
Francisco, 27 acres; J. p. Brownlee, Kincar-
/ dine, Ont, 8 acres; w. I. Barnett Berkeley. 3
acres; NJ. p. Brown, 10 acres; Chas Brook. Sr..
/ Oakland, 10 acres; w. c. Boutelle, Berkeley,
| 20 acres; Mrs. T. A. Creiin, Oakland, acres;
c. ii. Peach, Tancred, ) acres; II. c. Ellis, Oak
land. 10 acres; ]. Vanstone, Winnipeg, 10
acres; Z. \. Nanstone, Tancred, ) acres; f.
| Wadsworth, Sacramento, 5 acres; NJ. A.
Thomas, Oakland, 6 acres; James Graham,
San Francisco, IL acres; A. Stark, IL acres;
/ j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ. Vroo.nan, acres;
! c. E. Shook, 10 acres; q. I. Greathead, IL
acres; VIM. Mckay, 5 acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay,
! Oakland, acres; Mrs. f. c. Wooley, Brook
| lyn, n. Y, 10 acres; Mrs. II. Beckley Oakland.