The record-union., 1891-04-01
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred aud Its
Adjoining Farms.

IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
Robert A. and Neal d. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay. all of Oak
iaha, with a view OF searching out suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation of fruitgrowing. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, 9olo County, and the Rhodes tract mt
Tancrcd
Negotiations Were opened with the Capay
valley Land Company, owning the tract in
question. With W. Fl. Mills, the General
Agent of that company, they arranged for Tho
purchase of about 22o acres of foothill land
Ihis 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. Rickok, 40 acres; w. r.
barnett, 90 acres; n. T. Greathead, 20 acres:
Mrs. L. Greathead, 90 acres; w. Mckay. 90
acres; n. d. Barker, 90 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. 7. Brownlee, 90 acres; Il. II. Has
! iett- 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres.
30 lar this had been merely private ven
tire of the gentlemen above named. nut in
talking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased, 1t was found that so many
more would like TO join 1t than the area OF the
purchase would admit of that il was sup
! gested ON all hands, ''Why not Get some moro
! 'ahd and divide 1t up in the same way?D
lhen followed the idea of a stock company to
take hold of larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation OF the whole OF it. after suhdividinp
1t according TO the requirements of the SUBJ
/ scribers. A provisional board was formed n
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; Viee-President, NJ p Brown;
Direetors-H. c. Ellis. Charles Brooke and
X. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager.
veal y. barker; Solicitor, c. r. Shook; Treas
urer, 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 $4,000 and
! S4,ooo 10 the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then.
Inc 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 doubtinelr
| have become enthusiastic and almost an the
members arranged to set out all their lands in
iruit trees, ETC., the first year. Consequently
IN this, the first season, some DO, 600 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines win be
! planted.
The satisfactory working of this scheme has
mad the effect of attracting considerable at
tention to thework of the Colony Company.
ana number of people are now desirous of
Joining 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
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.
Inc fruits set out are mostly of the standard
vaf1eties-peaches, aprieots, Bartlett pears,
pruhes, ngs ra1sln 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 a sufficient number to
demonstrate that these fruits can be success
Iully grown IN the valley, about which the
eolonists 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 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 q pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by more
ambltious places. A small park of some three
acres mas 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
ofathe 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 a
large and busy city, but il is thought that il
can be made q 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 q
county road, and TO build a bridge across
Cache Creek Ut 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 .ri.- ut Of
Way, and are very iesirous of having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that it
would be very wise expenditure OF public
money TO grant them this very necessary i'm
proVeThent, as the operations of such COM
panles are of widespread benefit to the whole
county and State. The attractions and COM
forts of the cities are well known but to those
VINO are willing to settle on the land and 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 a list of the principal men,
berS of the Tancred Colony, with the number
OF acres owned by each, and TACT 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 ap-
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 inn
practicable: G. T. Hull Berkeley, acres: w.
p Harmon, Oakland, Ia acres; G. 6 Kasson
San Francisco, acres; JOS Barker o acres;
A. w. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, 5 acres; n. T.
Greathead, 5 acres; r. G. Greathead, Oakland.
10 acres; r. a. Barker, San Francisco, 10
acres; N d. Barker Tancred. 10 acres: DR. X
Favor, San Francisco, 81 acres; J, P. Brownlee.
Kincardine, Ont, acres; w. Il. Barnett
Berkeley. acres 81. P. Brown, 10 acres:
Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres: w @
Boutelle, Berkeley. 20 acres; Mrs. r. h Crelin
Oakland, acres; c. III. Peach, Tancrad )
acres; III. Q. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; j. Van
stone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; L. A Vanstone
Tancred, acres; E. Wadsworth Sacramento
acres; 81. a. Thomas, Oakland. & acres:
James Graham, San Francisco II acres. A.
Stark, 12 acres; ]. Stark 10 acres. Mrs M.
Nrooman, acres; G. e. Snook. 10 acres: C.
l. Greathead, II acres; VIM Mckay 8 acres;
" MRS: M mckay, Oakland, 5 acres; Mrs. Z.