The record-union., 1891-03-01
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.
IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR

'iieiiseiFeS Win Wil11am Mckay, all of Oak
iano, with view OF searching out suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation of fruitgrowng. 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.
Ihls 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. L. Greathead. 20 acres.
Mrs. L. Greathead, go acres: w. McKav On
acres; n. d. Barker 20 acres; r. \. Barker.
20 acres; j. F. Brownlee, 20 acres; E. H. Has
iett 10 acres; Joseph Barker, O acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly. O acres.
80 iar this had been merely q private ven
ture OF the gentlemen above named but
III talking up the question of dividing the
iana 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 suggested on all hands "Why not get
some more land ana divide it no 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 subdividIng 1t according to the re-
quirements of the subscribers. 4 provisional
board was formed, a prospectus issued. and
finaliy 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. 7. Brown. Directors-H c. Ellis, Charles
Brooke and r. A. Barker; Secretary and Cen
eral Manager, Neal d. Barker; Solicitor, C. e.
Snook; Treasurer, First National Bank of
| Oakland,
The balance of the tract, 373 acres was mr.
chased A contract was entered into for the
purchase of a large number of fruit trees
vines, etc. This early purchase of trees was
the means OF saving between Sd, 900 and
9i,ooo 10 the company, the prices i'll some
cases having more than doubled since then.
The IDEAS which the prospectus set forth
nave been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uninter-
fupted Those who went into It doubtirgly
have become enthusiastic and almost all tho
members arranged 10 set out all their land In
fruit trees, etc., the first year. Consequently
in this, the firstseason, 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 atten-
/ tion TO the work of the Colony Company. and
number of people are now desirous of ioin-
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
TINS marvellous little garden has come To be so
lohS 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.
Inc fruits set out are mostly of the standard
Varletles-peaches, apr:cots, Bartlett pears,
prunes figs, raisfn grapes, ETC.. while along
Doth 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
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
d. Barker, General Manager of the company,
resides on the tract and to his care is TO be as
c1bed 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 1t is proposed to beautify
by planting in Ii from time to time rs 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 q
large and busy city, but IL is thought that it
can be made very pleasant little place to
dwell ip
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, and to build q bridge across
Cache Creek at this point in order to give the
settlers on the cast 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. It is thought that it
would be Il very wise expenditure of public
money TO grant them this very necessary inn
provelnent, 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.
antly, every inducement should be held forth
The following is q list OF the principal men,
bers of the Tancrcd Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and q fact worthy of
mention IS that in each contract deed is
sued by the Colony Company there is {: pro-
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
be manufactured or sold on the land Tho
apparent success of the enterprise shows
that the ideas and plans OF the COL
ony, as set forth i'll the prospectus somo
time ago, are not impracticable: C. L.
Hull, Berkeley, ) acres; w. p. Harmon, Oak
land, IL acres; {. S. Kasson, San Francisco,
] acres: JOS. Barker, 10 acres; n. W. Kelly,
Kincardinc, Ont, 5 acres; II. T. Greathead, 5
acres; II. q. Greathead, Oalfiand 10 acres; r.
A. Barker, San Francisco 10 acres; n. ID. Bar
ker, Tancred, 10 acres; DR.. L. Favor, San
Francisco, 27 acres; ]. p. Brownlee, Kinc;tr-
dine, Ont, acres; w. T. Barnett Berkeley, 8
acres; NJ. p. Brown, acres; Chas. Brook Sr.,
Oakland, 10 acres; W. c. Boutellc Berkeley,
90 acres; Mrs. t. A. Crein. Oakland, acres;
c. H. Peach, Tancred. 5 acres; II. c. Ellis, Oak
land, 10 acres; J. Vanstonc, Winnipeg 10
acres; L. 4. Vanstone, Tancred, acres; f.
Wadsworth, Sacramento, 5 acres; NJ. A.
Thomas, Oakland, acres; James Graham,
San Francisco, l acres: A. Stark, / g acres;
j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ vrooman acres;
{. E. Shook. 10 acres: G. T. Greathead IL
acres; VIM. Mckay, acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay,
Oakland. 8 acres; Mrs. f. C. Woolcy. Brook.
lyn, y. Y, i acres; Mrs. H. Bcckiey Oak land,
. acres; L. ~ Marriott, 5 acres; j. G. Harrison,
Tancred, 5 acres. The land reserved by the
Colony Company, including townsite, consisa