The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-05-26
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
YOlO ValIey-Tancred aud 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 suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation OF fruitgrowing. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, Tolo County, and the Rhodes tract
at TancreG.
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
of about 22o acres of foothfu land.
This being more than they had thought of
taking for their own use, they spoke to n
number of friends about it, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow
ing people: B. L. Hiclolx, 40 acres; w. II.
Barnett, go acres; n. T. Greathead. 20 acres.
Mrs. L. Greathead, 90 acres; w. Mckay, 20
acres; n. D. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker.
20 acres; j. z. Brownlee, 90 acres; e. II. Has
lett, 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 thearea of the
would admit of, that it was sug-
gested on all hands, ''Why not get some more
land and divide it up in the same way?n
Then followed the idea of a stock COMPANY 10
take hold of larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation OF the whole Oft, after subdividing
it 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
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. G. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
K. 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. y contract was entered into for The
purchase of a 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-
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
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 900
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 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
varieties peaches apricots, Bartlett pears.
prunes, figs, raisin grapes, ETC., while along
both sides of the avenues throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their grateful shade.
A considerable number of citrus trees are also
oelng set out; quite a sufficient number to
demonstrate that these fruits can be success
-ully grown in the valley, about which the
oiE1C on tr>l ,,,,-
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 a pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by more
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
oy planting in it from time to time as many
IF the beauties and curiOsitieS of tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
search and a wise expenditure of money. 1t
IS not expected that Tancred will ever be a
arge and busy city, but it is thought that it
IAN be made a very pleasant little place 10
1weli in.
a petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to ac-
.ept Island avenue, on the colony tract as q
county road, ana 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
rancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
lutte willing TO give the necessary right of
way, and are very DESTROYS of having bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
'ides OF the stream. 1t is thought that it
would be n very wise expenditure of public
tn ic
rs the operations OF such COM
oanies are of widespread benefit to the whole
county and State, Tho attractions and COM
orts of the cities are well known, but to
hose who are willing to settle on the land and
show that the country also affords attractions
md comforts, and ways of making money
pleasantly, every induccment should be held
orth.
The following is a list of the principal mem
oers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
If 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 n pro-
vision that no intoxicating LIQUOR shall ever
be manufactured or sold on the land. The ap-
parent success of the enterprise shows that
-he ideas and plans of the colony. as set forth
m the prospectus some time ago. arc not i'm
practicable: c. L. Hull, Berkeley, acres; w.
z. Hammond, Oakland, ID acres; C. S. Kas-
son, San Francisco, IL acres; Jos. Barker, 10
acres; A. W. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, acres;
y. T. Greathead, > acres; r. G. Greathead,
10 acres; r. A. Barker, San Fran
,isco, 10 acres: n. d. Barker, Tancred, 10
acres; DIR. X, Favor, san Francisco. p acres;
J. p. Brownlee, Kincardine, Ont, acres; w.
T. Barnett, Berkeley, 5 acres; NJ. F. Brown,
10 acres; Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres;
w. c. RoUtele, Berkeley go acres: Mrs T.
A. Crellin, Oal1l5,.zd, acres; G. H. Peach,
rancred, 5acres; II. G. Ellis, Oakland, lOacres;
J. Vanstone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; f. A. Van
stone, Tancred, 5 acres; f. Wadsworth. Sac
5 acres; NJ. a. Thomas, Oakland,
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, IL
scres; y. Stark, IL acres; j. Stark, 10 acres;
SIrs II Nrnnraann . @ i SllnnI,