The record-union., 1891-07-04
1 CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit Growers in a Pretty
YolO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

- Robert A. and Neal u. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak
'and with view OF searching out suitabls
location In which to engage in the profitable
occupation OF f'uit-grewing. After visiting
! many localities, they decided on the Capay
valley, Holo County, and the Rhodes tract
at Tancree
Negotiations were opened with the Capsy
Valley Land Company, owning the trart in
/ question. With w. H Mills. the Genera,
agent of that company. they arranged for the
purchase OF about 22O acres OF fcothi! land
! This being moro than they had thought of
taking for their own use, they spoke 70 a
number of friends about II, with tho result
/ that The tract was divided among The follow
/ Ing people: b. L. Hickok, 40 acres; W. T.
Barnett 20 acres; n. I. Gireathead. 20 acres:
Mrs. L. Greathead, 30 acres: w. Mckay go
acres; N D. Barker, 90 acres: r. A. Barker
/ 20 acres; ]. p. Brownlee, 20 acres; Z. II. Has.
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 0 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. 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 tho
purchase would admit Of that it was sue.
| gested on all hands, "Why not get some mora
land and divide it up in the same wavor
Tnen followed the idea of stock company to
take hold Of a larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation OF the whole oft, after subdtvidinr
1t according to the requirements of the sub
| scnbers. A provisional board was formed n
| prospectus issued, and finally, on tho 9th Of
| Tune, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
! onizatior and Improvement Company wss
| duly registered and proceeded to business.
! with the following officers: President, VIII.
| lam Mckay; Vice-President. NJ. P. Brown;
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke ana
| h. 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 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 S.. 600 and
| $4,000 TO the company, the prices in some
eases having more than doubled since then.
The ideas which the prospectus set forth
have been but slightly modified and tho
progress of the company has been uninter-
rupted. Those who went into il doubttnpIv
have become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged to set out all theiT lands in
fruit trees, etc. the first year. Consequently
in this, the first season, some 10000 trees
ana between 10000 and 10000 vines will bs
planted.
The satisfactory working Of this scheme hag
had the effect Of attracting considerable at.
tention 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 f.,
which their operations are conducted. now
this marvellous little garden has come to be so
long neglected is puzzle to every one who
has visited it, bat one thing is very sure. ana
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, raisin grapes, etc, while along
both sides of the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts viii throw their grateful shade.
A 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
colonists 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 ont right IN the center OF
the town. This park it is proposed to bcautif-
by planting IN it from time 10 time as many
OF the beauties ana curiositles Of tree aud
shrub life as may be obtained by dillgent
search and wise expenditure of money 1t
is not expected that Tancred will ever be q
large and busy city, but it is thought that it
can be made very pleasant little place TO
dwell in.
\ petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to ac-
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, rs =
county road, and to build n bridge across
Cache Greek al this point, IN order to give tho
settlers on the east side OF the creek access to
TGncrcd Station. The TaEcred colcnists arc
quite willing 10 give tho necessary TighS OF
way, and are very Gesirous of having 4 bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. It is thought that il
would be q very wise expenditure of public
money TO grant them this very necessary I'M
provenent as the operations OF such com.
panies are of widespread benefit TO tho who,a
eou2ty and State. The attractions and com,
those who are willing to settle or tho land and
show that the country also affords attractions
end comforts, and ways of making money
pleasantly, every induceInent should be held
forth.
Tie following is Il list OF the principal nenl.
berg fthe Tancred Colony, with the number
OF acres owned by each, and q fact WORTH of
mention is that in each contract or deed IS.
sued by the Colony Company there is :, rros
vision that no intoxicating liquor shall cveI
be manufactured or sold on the land 'Theap
parent success OF the enterprise shows thasi
the ideas and plans of the, colony as set fortE
n the prospectus some time ago are not inn
practicable: c. L. Hull, Berkeley, acres: ",
J.. Hammond, Oakland, Ii acres; C. S. Kas
son, San Francisco, IL acres; Jos. Barker, 10
ucress y. W. Kelly, hfncardinc, Ont, 5 acres
n. 7. Greathead, acres; +. G.. Greathcad
Oakland, 10 acres; II. a. Barker, san Fran
cisco, 10 acres; II. D. Barker, Tancred q
acres; Dr.. X. Favor, san Francisco, 27 acres
J. z, BrowHlee, Ilincardine, Ont, acres; W
I. Barnett Berkeley, acres: III. p. Brown
10 acres; Chas Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres
w. {. BovteHe, Berkeley, 90 acres; Mrs L
A. Crellin, Ual6lalzd, 5 acres; 9. II. Peaca
Iancred, acres; II. &. Ellis, Oakland, 1oacrcS
j. Nanstonc, Winnipeg, 20 acres: E. y. Van
stone, Tancred, acres; T. Wadsworth, sac
carncnto, 5 acres; NJ. 4. Thomas, Oakland,
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, 4
acres; y. Stark, u acres; J. Stark, 10 acres
Mrs. NJ. Nrooman, 8 acres; G. Il. onook, IL
Ecres; .. i. Greathead, IL acres; W.n. Alt
Kay, acres; Mrs. Wm. Mckay, Oakland,
acres; Mrs. l.. c. Wooley, Brooklyn y. y. y
acres; Mrs. H. Beckley, Oakland, acres; 1
A Marglett, acres; j. c. Harrison, TancIet
8 acres. The land reserved BY the Colon.