The record-union., 1891-07-31
A CAPAY COLONY,
Busy uit-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 n suitabIa
location in which to engage in the pro6tahIa
occupation of fruitgrowing After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, 9olo County. and the Rhodes tract at
Taucred
negotiations were opened with the Capav
aliey 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 foothin land
This being more than they had thought of
taxing Tor their own use, they spoke to a
number of friends about ii, with the resp]t
that the tract was divided among the follow.
ing people: B. L. Rickok, 40 acres: w. II
hafnett 20 acres; n. I. Greathead, 90 acres
Mrs L. Greathcad, 20 acres; w. Mckay, 20
acres; n d. Barker, 20 acres; r.. A. Barker
20 acres; j. P. Brownlee, 90 acres: f. Fl. Has.
iett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker 10 acres: A. w
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres
SO far this had been merely a private ven.
ture of the gentlemen above named b,t II,
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 sup-
gested on all hands, 'Why not get some moro
land and divide it up in the same way?n
Then followed the idea of a stock con1panv Il,
n n
cultivation of the whole of it, after subdividing
it according to the requirements of the sub.
ocribers. A provisional board was formed y
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th Of
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
onization and Improvement Company was
oily registered and proceeded to business.
with the following officers: President VIII
lam Mckay; Vice-Prestdent, NJ P. Brown;
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
X. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager.
Neal D. Barker; Solicitor; c. E. Shook; Treas
urer, First National Bank of Oakland
Ihe balance OF the tract, 373 acres, was pur-
chased A contract was entered into for the
purchase OF 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-
rupfed. 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 40 900 trees anti
between 10000 and 10000 vines win be
planted.
The satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tent1on to the work of the Colony COMPANY.
and 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
this marvellous little garden has come to be so
long neglected is a puzzle to every one who
has visited 1t, 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
varieties-peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears,
prunes, figs, raistn grapes, ETC., while along
both sides of the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their graceful shade.
A Observation-Disclosures 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
eolonists appear 70 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
oh joh t.
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 cuTiosities OF tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
search and a wise expenditure of money II
is not expected that Tancred will ever be a
large and busy city, but it is thought that il
can be made o very pleasant little place to
dwell in.
petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the countyt to ac
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, as
county road, and TO build bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, IN order to give the
settlers on the east side of the creek access to
Gancred Station. The Tancred colopists are
quite willing TO give the necessary right ot
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. II is thought that IL
would be a 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 anC
comforts and ways OF making money pleas
antly, every inducement should be held forth
The following is a list of the principal mem
bers OF the Tancred Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and q fact worthy o.
mention is that In each contract or deed is
| sued by the Colony Company there is B pro
vision that no intoxicating liquor shall ever
be manufactured or sold on the land. The ap
parent success o I the enterprise shows that
the ideas and plans of the colony, us set forth
in the prospectus some time ago, are not i'm
practicable: c. r. Hull Berkeley, acres; w
p. Harmon, Oakland, Il acres; G. S. Kasson
San Francisco. IL acres; Jos. Barker, 10 acres
A. W. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, acres; n. L
Greathead, 5 acres; r. G. Greathead, Oakland
10 acres; R. A. Barker, San Francisco, 1C
acres; n. d. Barker Tancred, 10 acres; DR.. *
Favor, San Francisco, 27 acres; J. p Brownlee
Kincardine, Ont, acres; w. I. Barnett
Berkeley, acres; M P. Brown, 10 acres
Chas. Brook, Sr., Oakland. 10 acres; w. G
Boutelle, Berkeley, 20 acres; Mrs. T. A. Crelin
Oakland, 5 acres; G.. II. Peach, Tanered, 3
acres; Fl. c. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; j. Van
stone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; E. A. Vanstone
Tancred, 5 acres E. Wadsworth, Sacramento
acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland, 9 acres
James Graham, San Francisco. II acres; A
Stark, IL acres; j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ
Vrooman, 8 acres; @. E. Shook, 10 acres; c
r. Greathead, IL acres; VIM. Mckay, 5 acres
Mrs VIVA. Mckay, Oakland, acres; Mrs. E
G. Wooley, Brooklyn, N Y, 10 acres; Mrs II