The record-union., 1891-07-06
1 CAPAY COLONY.
8asy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
YolO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

TN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAn
- 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 fruitgrewing. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, Golo County and the Rhodes tracs
at Tancred
Negotiations were opened with She Cspsv
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 oe
! taking for their own use, they spoke to q
number OF friends about il, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow
Ing people: B. L. Hickolr, 40 acres; w. T.
Barnett, 20 acres; N. T. Greathead, go acres:
Mrs. l.. Greathead, 90 acres; w. Mckay, 20
acres; N D. Barker, 90 acres; r. a. Barker.
| 20 acres; j. P. Erownlee, 20 acres; e. ii. Has.
iett 10 acres; Joseph Barker 10 acres; A. W.
| Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres
So far this had been merely q private ven.
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 sug-
Sested on all hands, "Why not get some more
land and divide 1t 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 oft, after subdividing
1T according to the requirements of the SUBJ
| scribers. 4 provisional board was formed n
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th Of
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
onizatior and Improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded to business,
with the following officers: President Will
lam Mckay; Vice-President NJ P. Brown:
Directors-H. C. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
Il. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manage
Neal D. Barker; Solicitor, c. E. Shook; Treas
urer, First National Bank of Oakland.
The balance Of the tract, 373 acres, was pu-.
chased. a contract was entered into for tho
purchase OF a large number of fruit trees.
vines, etc. This early purchase of trees was
the means of saving between 50 900 and
$4,000 to the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then
| have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been unfnter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtingly
| have become enthusiastic, and almost all the
| members arranged to set out all their lands in
| fruit 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
mad the effect OF attracting considerable at
tention to the work of the Colony Conpanv.
and number of people are now desirous of
| Joining in with them. An additional oOO
acres have been added to the sixty acres
| originally purchased.
For tne 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 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.
! The fruits set out are mostly of the standard
! neutrality-suspicious., apricots, Bartlett pears.
| prunes, tigs raisin grapes etc. while along
both sides of the avenues, throughout tho
! tract, walnuts will throw their grateful shade
! considerable number of citrus trees are also
being set out; quite a sufficient number to
! demonstrate that these fruits can be success
fully grown in the valley, about which the
! colonlsts 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
ascribed 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. a small park of some three
| acres has been laid out right in the center OF
! the town. This park it is proposed to beautify
by planting in it from time TO time as many
OF the beauties and curiositles of tree and
| shrub life as may be obtained by dillgene
search and a wise expenditure OF money. 10
is not expected that Tancred will ever be q
large and busy city, bat 1t is thought that i5
can be made very pleasant little place to
dwell in.
A petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to
/ cept Island avenue on the colony tract, q
county road and to build q bridge across
Cache Greek at this point in order to give tho
settlers on the east side OF tho creek access 10
Tancred Station. Tho TaRcred colonists ara
quite willing to give the necessary right oE
way, and very desirous OF having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
| SIDES of the stream. II is thought that 10
would be q very wise expenditure OF public
money to grant them this very necessary i1ts-
| provement, the operations of such coTr-
palies are OF widespread benefit to the whole
county and State. The attractions and conf
forts OF the cities are well known, but to
those who willing to settle or the land and
| show that the country also affords Sttractions
! and comforts, and ways OF making money
! pleasantly, every inducement should be held
| forth.
The following is list Of the principal mem.
bcrs OF the Tancred Colony, with the number
Of acres owned by each, and fact worthy OF
| mention is that IL each contract or deed i;-
sued by the Colony Company there is q prraa
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall evs3
be manufactured or sold on the land The ar<
parent success of the enterprise shows that
the ideas and plans of the colony as set forth
in the prospectus some time ago arc not i'm,
| practicable e. T. Hull, Berkeley 8 acres: w,
Z. Hammond, Oakland, Ia acres: G. s. Kast
son, San Francisco, IL acres; JOS Barker, 10
acres; y. w. Kelly, Kincardine Ont acres
IN. Z. Greathead, 5 acres; r. e. Greathead
Oakland, 10 acres; r. A. Barker San Franz
cisco, 10 acres; N. D. Barker, Tancred. 10
acres; DR.. X. Favor, San Francisco, 27 acres
| j. 2. 8rownlce, kincardinc Ont acres; w
T. Barnett, Berkeley, 5 acres; NJ. z. Browai
| 10 acres; Chas. Brook, ST.. Oakland, 10 acreS
| W. G. Boptelle. Berkeley, 20 acres; Mrs. Il
A. Crellin, Oakland, 5 acres; c. 81. PeacH
Tancred, acres 81. c. Ellis, Oakland, 1oacreS
j. Nanstone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; L. A. VAN
J stone, Tancred, acres; E. Wadsworth, Sao
Tamento, acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland,
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, II
acres; n. Stark, 12 acres; ]. Stark, 10 acres
Mrs NJ. Vrooman, 5 acres; c. Z. Snook, IL
4 acres; G. L. Greathead, 12 acres; Wm Nh
Kay, 5 acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland,s
acres: Mrs. E. c. Wooley, Brooklyn, N. l., 1t
acres; Mrs. II. Beckley, Oakland, acres; u