The record-union., 1891-02-28
4 CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

TN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
- Robert A. and Neal d. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak
land, with a view OF searching out suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
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 in
| question. With W. II. Mills, the General
| Agent OF that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about 22o acres of foothin 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: E. l.. Hickok, 30 acres; w. T.
Barnett, 90 acres; N I. Greathead, 20 acres;
Mrs. L. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay. 20
acres; n. D. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker,
20 acres; j. p. Brownlee, 90 acres; E. II. Has
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly / acres
so far this had been merely private ven-
| ture of the gentlemen above named. but
III 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 stock
company to take hold of a larger tract and
| arrange for the cultivation of the whole of it,
after subdividng 1t according TO the re-
| quirements of the subscribers. 4 provisional
board was formed, a prospectus issued and
nhally, on the 9TH of Juue, 1890, 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. p. Brown. Directors-H. C. Ellis Charles
Brooke and R. A. Barker; Secretary and GEN
eral Manager, Neal D. Barker; Solicitor C. E.
Shook; Treasurer, First National Bank of
Oakland.
The balance of the tract, 373 acres, was pur-
chased. contract was entered into for the
purchase of large number of fEsst 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
| H.
The ideas which the prospectus set forth
have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uninter-
| rupted. Those who went into il doubtingly
have become enthusiastic and almost all the
! members arranged to set out all theil land in
| fruit trees etc, the first year. Consequently
in this, the first season, some 40, 600 trees and
between 10000 ana 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 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 so
long neglected is a puzzle to every one 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
neutrality-suspicious., apricots, Bartlett pears,
prunes, figs, raisin grapes, etc, while along
| both sides of the avenues throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their graceful shade
A considerable number of citrus trees are also
being set out; quite sufficient number to
OSliiOilSIlStS tnCSG 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 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 moro
| ambitious places. A small park of some three
/ hoe l,.,g, r.sr1
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 - wise expenditure of money 1t
| is not expected that Tancred will ever be
large and busy city, .),it it is thought that it
can be made q very pleasant little place TO
dwell in.
4 petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county 20 ac-
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, as q
county road, and 70 build bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order to give the
settlers or the east side of the creek access to
Tancred Station. The Tancrcd 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 TIE stream. I: is thought that it
would be "A very wise expenditure of public
| provement, as the operations OF such COM
panes are of widespread benefit to the whole
county and State. The attractions and COM
forts OF the cities are well known, but 10 those
who are wllll;,g to settle OH the land ana show
thai the country also affords attractions ard
comforts and ways of making money pleas
antly, every indUcement should be held forth
The following is a list OF the principal men,
| bers of the Iancrcd Colony, with tnc number
! OF acres owned By each, and q fact worthy OF
Incntion is tilat in each contract or deed Is
sued by the Colony Company there is a pro-
Vision that 10 intoxicating liquor shall ever
| be manufactured or sold on the land. Tha
apparent success Of the enterprise shows
| that tie ideas and plans of the cyl-
oay. rs set forth i'll the prospectus somo
/ tine ago, are not impracticRble: c. r.
! Hull, Berkeley, acres; W. L. Hanmou. Oak,
! land, Ia acres; c. S. Kasson. San Frnnciscr
| ] acres: jos. Barker, 10 acres; A. w. Kelly
] kincardine, Ont, 3 acres; y. 7. Creattiead :
acres; X. q. Cre;tthead, Oakland 10 acres: e.
a. BARKER, san Francisco, 10 acres; ". d. Bar
ker, l;tnered, 10 acres; DR.. X. Favor. san
! Francisco, ~ acres; j. T. Brownies Rinrar-
dlile' on'.. acres; W. /. Barnett, Berkeley, 5
acres; NJ. Y. Brown, 10 acres; Chas. Brook. Sr,
Oakland, 10 acres: w. c. Boutelic. Berkeley,
20 acres; Alrs 7. A. Crelin, Oakland. acres;
u ii. fetch, Iancred, 8 acres H. c. Ellis, Oak
| iand, - acres: j. Vanstone Winnipeg, 10
acres; r. y. VanStone, Tgncred, acres; Il.
WtasWortil, ~ sacramento, acres; NJ. y.
inohits, Oakland, 6 acres; James Graham,
San Francisco, IL acres: A. Stark, l2 acres;
). stark. 10 acres Mrs. NJ yrooman, S acres;
=. u. Snook, 10 acres;C. T. Grcathcad, IL
acres; Wn. Mckay, 5 acres; Mrs. Vim. Mckay,
Oakland, . acres; Mrs. E. C. Wooley, Brook
| lyn, ~ " 10 acres: Mrs. Il. Beclsley, Oakland,
. ,f.Ast( II Iupr