The record-union., 1891-03-23
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy ruit-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 q suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation of fruitgrowing. 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. H. Mills, the General
Agent OF that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about 22O acres of foothiil 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
barnett, 20 acres; n. T. Greathead, 20 acres;
Mrs L. Greathead, 90 acres; w. Mckay, go
acres; n. ID. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; ]. P. Brownlee, 20 acres; E. H. Has
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres: A. w.
Kelly, % acres, and Frederick Kelly. 10 acres.
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 sur-
gested on all hands, "Why not Get some more
land and divide it up in the same wavov
men loiiowed the idea of stock company to
take hold of n larger tract and arrange for the
cultiTation of the whole of il, after subdiyidinp
1t according to the requirements of the SUBJ
scrihers. A provisional board was formed y
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th of
June, 1890, the Western Co-operatfve Col
onRation and Improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded to business.
with the following officers: President. Will
lam Mckay; Vice-President, NJ. p. Brown.
Dlrectors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
II. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager
Neal d. Barker; Solicitor, C. E. Shook: Treas
ufer, + irst National Bank of Oakland
Inc balance of the tract, 373 acres. was mr.
chased. contract was entered into for the
purchase OF n large number of fruit trees
vines, etc. This early purchase of trees was
the means of saving between $4,000 and
9f,ooo 10 the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then
Inc ideas which the prospectus set forth
nave been but slightly modified and the
Piosress OF the company has been uninter-
iupUeu. 1hose who went into it doubtingly
nave become enthusiastic and almost all tbe
members arranged to set out all their lands in
fruit trees, ETC., the first year. Consequently
in this, the first season. some 10 600 traas on,
between 10000 and 10000 vines win he
planted.
Inc satisfactory working of this scheme has
hau the effect of attracting considerable at
tehtlon TO the work of the Colony CoInranv
ana number of people are now desirous of
joining in with them. An additional 900
acres have been added to the sixtv acres
originally purchased
/. For the company is predicted yery BRIGHT
future, as well as for the beautiful valley in
which their operations are conducted. How
thls marvellous little garden has come to be so
!ohS neglected Is puzzle to every one who
mas visited 1t. but one thing is very sure. and
that is that this neglect win never again bo
felt in the valley.
The fruits set out are mostly of tho sto,,do,1
varieties-peaches, apricots. Bartlett pears
prunes, figs, raisin grapes, ETC., while alone
poth sioes OF the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their graceful shade.
"A considerable number of citrus trees are also
peing set out; quite a sufficient number to
demonstrate that these fruits can be sl1ccesS-
fully grown in the valley, about which the
colonists appear to have no doubt. provided
proper care is given to the young trees. Neal
u. barker, General Manager of the company.
reslues on the tract, and to his care is to be as
crloed much of the success of the venture.
Mention should be made of the to,vpsito
10
which might with profit be followed by more
places. a small park of some three
acres has been laid out right in the center ot |
the town. This park it is proposed to beautifv
oy painting in 1t 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. IT |
is not expected that Tancred will ever he n |
large and busy city, but it is thought that IL |
can be made very pleasant little place tn |
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 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 eolonists 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. 1t is thought that IL |
would be 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 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 q list of the principal mem
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and n fact 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 i'm
practicable: c. T. Huh. Berkeley, 5 acres; w.
p. Harmon, Oakland, Ii acres; G. s. Kasson,
San Francisco, acres; Jos. Barker 10 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. t. Barnett.
Berkeley, acres; NJ. P. Brown, 10 acres;
Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres; w. G.
Boutelle, Berkeley, 90 acres; Mrs. T. A. Crelin.
Oakland, acres; G. II. Peach Tancred. 5
acres; II. G. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; ]. Van,
stone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; Z. A. Vanstone
Tancred, S acres; E. Wadsworth Sacramento.
acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland, acres:
James Graham, San Francisco, i acres. A
Stark, IL acres; ]. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ.
Vrooman, 5 acres; C. E. Shook, 10 acres. C.
7. Greathead, IL acres: VIM. Mckay, 5 acres:
Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland, 5 acres; Mrs. f.
C. Wooley, Brooklyn, N Y, o acres; Mrs. III.
Becaley Oakland, 5 acres; 7. A. Marriett.