The record-union., 1891-06-29
1 CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit-Growers in PRETTY
YOlO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

TN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAA
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 fruitgrowing. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract
at Tancre6
negotiations were opened with the Capav
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 foothill ,and
4hls being moro 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 foIlov,
Ing people: B. L. Hickok, 40 acres: VT.
barnett, 20 acres; N. L. Greathcad, 20 acres;
Mrs. L. Greathead, 90 acres; w. Mckay, go
acres N. d. Barker 20 acres; r.. A. Barker.
20 acres; j. P Brownlee, 20 acres; L. II. Has.
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 scres, and Frederick Kelly, O acres.
so far this had been merely private VEN
ture OF the gentlemen above named but in
talking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased 1t was found that SO many
more would like to join IL than the area OF tho
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 waypr
Tnen followed the idea of a stock company to
lake hold of larger tract and arrange for tho
cultivation OF the whole Oft, after subdividing
1T according to the requirements of the sub
| scribers. A 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 VIII.
lam Mckay; Vice-President, NJ. p. Brown;
Directors-H. G. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
r. a. Barker; Secretary and General Manage
Neal ID. Barker; Solicitor. C. E. Shook; Treas.
urer, First National Bank of Oakland.
The 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 unintey-
| rupted. Those who went into it doubtingly
| have become enthusiastic and almost all the
mem berS 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 ofthis scheme has
mad the effect of attracting considerable at
| tentlon 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 very bright
| future, as well 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
| telt in the valley
The fruits set out are mostly of the standard
| Varieties--peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears,
| prunes, ngs, raisn grapes ETC., while along
| both sides of the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts Will throw their grateful shade
! considerable number of citrus trees are also
! being set out; quite sufficient number to
| demonstrate that these fruits can be success
1ully grown in the valley, about which the
| colonlstS appear to have no doubt provided
| proper care is given to the young trees. Neal
| d. 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 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 curiosities OF tree and
| shrub life Us may be obtained by diligent
search and wise expenditure of money. It
| is not expected that Tancred will ever be
large and busy city, but it is thought that it
| can be made very pleasant little place to
! dwell in.
a petition has been circulated recently and
| very largely signed, asking the county to 40
| cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, a
| county road, ana to build q bridge across
| Cache Greek at this point, in order to give the
settlers on the east side OF the creek access TO
| Tancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
! quite willing to give the necessary right of
way, and are very desirous of having bridge
! there, as the colony lands extend along botiN
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that 8
| would be very wise expenditure of pubic
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 we'll 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
pleasantly, every inducement should be held
| forth.
The following is list of the principal men,
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
OF acres owned by each, and a fact worthy of
| mention is that in each contract or deed is
sued by the Colony Company there is q 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
| practicable: c. L. Hull, Berkeley, acres: w
P. Hammond, Oakland, ID acres; C. S. Kas-
son, San Francisco, IL acres; JOS Barker 10
acres; A. w. Kelly, Kincardine Ont, 8 acres;
! N. t. Greathead, acres; r. G. Greathead
Oakland, 10 acres: II. A. Barker, San Fran
CISCO 10 acres; \. d Barker Tancred. 10
acres; DR.. x. Favor, San Francisco, 27 acres:
j. p. Brownlee, Kincardine, Ont, acres; w.
L. Barnett, Berkeley, 3 acres; NJ p Brown,
10 acres; Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland o acres;
w. Z. BoUtelle, Berkeley, 90 acres; Mrs. L.
A. Crellin, oakland, acres; c. II. Peach,
Iancred, . acres; II. c. Ellis, Oakland, 10acres;
j. Vanstone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; z. A. Van
( stone, Tancred, 5 acres; L. Wadsworth, Sac
ranento, 5 acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland, q
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, 4
acres; A. Stark, IL acres; ]. Stark, 10 acres;
Mrs Nj. Vrooman, 5 acres G. Z. Shook, 10
acres; Q. T. Greathead, IL acres; VIM. Nc
Kay, acres. Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland, .
acres; Mrs. z. c. Wooley, Brooklyn, y. y, 10