The record-union., 1891-02-24
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit Growers in 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 a 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. II. Mills, the General
! Agent OF that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about 220 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,. b. L. Hickoll, 40 acres: w. T.
Barnett, 20 acres; n. I. Greathead. 20 acres:
Mrs. L. Greathead, 20 acres; W. Mckay. 90
! acres; n. ID. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker,
20 acres; j. p. Brownlee, go acres; E. H. Has
Lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres.
| so f;lr 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 a stock
company to take hold of a larger tract and
arrange for the cultivation of the whole of it,
aiter suodlYidmg it according to the re-
quirements of the subscribers. A provisional
board was formed, q prospectus issued. and
finally, 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. T. Brown. Directors-H. c.. Ellis, Charles
Brooke and r. A. Barker; Secretary and Cen
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 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-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtingly
have become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged to set out all their land in
frult 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 atten-
ton to the work of the Colony Company and
| a 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 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 q 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
neutrality-suspicious., apricots, Bartlett pears,
prunes, hgs, 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
| demonstrate that these fruits can be success
y,
colonists appear to have 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 as
cribed much of the success of the venture.
Mention should be made of the town-site.
| about which there is n pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by more
ambitious places. small park of some three
| acres has been laid out right in the center of
l the 1arl-it &c,
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 q wise expenditure of money 1t
| is not expected that Tancred will ever be a
large and busy city, but it is thought that it
! can be made q 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 n
county road, and to build n 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 cojonists are
| quite willing to give the necessary right of
/ way, and are very desirous OF having bridge
| there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that it
would be a very wise expenditure of public
money TO grant them this very necessary Inn
! piO'SiiiNiAt, oo Jut OpeIdliOHS OIL Sucn 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
tlat the country also affords attractions and
comforts and ways OF making money pleas
antiy, every lnducement should be held forth
| The following is a list of the principal men,
/ bers OF the Tancred Colony, with the number
! oil acres owned by each, and q fact worthy Of
] nm fifxv,s
| sued by the Colony Company there IS a pro-
/! vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
| be manufactured 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 iinpracticable: c. T
Hull, Berkeley. 3 acres; w. p. Hammon. Oak.
| land, Id acres; c. S. Kasson, San Francisco
| II acres; Jos. Barker, 10 acres; A. w KeIlv,
hlncardne, ont, acres; n. 7. Greathead :,
| acres; r. G. Greathead, Oakland. 10 acres. p
a. Barker, San Francisco. 0 acres. n n b..
ker, Tancred, 10 acres; DIR. X. Favor san
francisco, 27 acres; j. p. Brownlee. Kincar-
dine, Ont, acres; w. 7. Barnett. Berl,elev. :
acres; M. p. Brown, 10 acres Chas. Brook. Sr..
Oakland, 10 acres; W. c. Boutelle. Berkeley.
20 acres; Mrs T. A. Crelin, Oakland r acres.
=. n. feach, fancred, 5 acres; H. C. Ellis, Oak
land, 10 acres; ]. Vanstone. Winnipeg, 10
acres Il. A. Nanstone, Tancred, 5 acres; L.
w " maIos"ortl, sacramento, 5 acres; NJ A.
Ihonas, Oakland, acres; James Graham,
| san Francisco, IL acres; A. Stark, 12 acres;
). STARK, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ. Vrooman, acres;
7. Il. snook, 10 acres; c. T. Greathead, IL
acres; v m. Mckay, 5 acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay,
oakland. acres; Mrs. E. c. Wooley. Brook
iyh, n. T., 10 acres; Mrs. III. Beckley Oakland,
Q acres; 1. A Marriott, acres; ]. G. Harrison,
dancred, acres. The land reserved by the
Colony Company, including toynsite, consists