The record-union., 1891-03-16
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy ruit-Growers in Pretty
YoIo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

! 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 fruitgrowlng. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract at
| Tancred.
Negotiations were opened with the Capay
Valley Land Company, owning the tract in
question. With w. II. Mills. the General
Agent of t.Iat company, they arranged for the
purchase of about ego acres of foothtll land.
This being more 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 follow
! ing people: b. Il. Rickok, 40 acres; W. T.
barnett, 90 acres; N. 7. Greathead, 20 acres;
Mrs. l.. Greathead. 90 acres; w. Mckay, go
acres; n. D. Barker. 20 acres r. A. Barker,
20 acres; j. P. BrownIee, 20 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 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-
! 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 to
take hold of larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation OF the whole of ii, after subdividng
1t according to the requirements of the SUBJ
scribers. provisional board was formed, a
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th of
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
onization and Improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded to business.
with the following officers: President. Will
lam Mckay; Vice-Presfdent, NJ p Brown;
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
Il. a. Barker; Secretary and General Manager,
Neal d. Barker; Solicitor, G. 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 n 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
nave been but slightly modified and the
progress Of the company has been uninter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtincly
have become enthusiastic, and almost I'LL the
members arranged to set out all their lands in
fruit trees, ETC., the first year. Consequently
IN thls, the first season, some 40 900 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines will be
planted.
| The satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tent1on to the work of the Colony Company.
ana number of people are now desirous of
Joining In with them. An additional 600
acres have been added to the sixty acres
originally purchased.
! For the company is predicted a very brigh,
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 whoj
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
Valletles-peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears,
prunes, figs, raisin grapes, etc, while along,
| both sides of the avenues, throughout the
| tract, walnuts will throw their graceful 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 tho
| 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 as
crfbed much of the success OF the venture
| Mention should be made of the town-site. :.
about which there is a pleasant innovationN
| which might with profit be followed by moret \
ambitious places. A "a all park of some three,
| acres has been laid out right in the center of
the town. This park it is proposed to beautifv.
| by planting in it from time to time as MANY
tl,,aI
shrub life as may be obtained by diligentl
search and q wise expenditure of money It
is not expected that Tancred willseyer he ~
large and busy city, but it is thought that1it
| can be made very pleasant little place so)
dwell in
a petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking The county to a,-)
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract. as ny
county road, and to build a bridge across
cache Creek at this point, in order to give the
settlers on the east side of the creek access 10
Tancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
quite willing TO give the necessary right ofS
way, and are very desirous of having a bridoo
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides OF the stream. 1t is thought that it}
would be very wise expenditure of pubTic5
money TO grant them this very necessary i'm,
provement, as the operations of such corn.
panles are OF widespread benefit to the who5a
SNNiilJ anu fctdte. 1He 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 and
comforts and ways of making money pleas
antly, every inducement should be held for,h
Inc following Is n list of the principal morn
bers of the Tancred Colony with the nrn,ho,
Oh acres owned by each, and Il fact worthy of
mention Is that in each contract or deed is.
suea by the Colony Company there is a pro-
vision that no intoxicating liquor shall over,
DC iilahulactured or sold on the land. The nm.
parent success Of the enterprise shows that
tne IDEAS ana plans OF the colony, as set forth
III tlic prospectus some time ago are not inn
pracucapie: Y. I. Huil. Berkeley, 5 acres. w
I. haiflmon, Oakland, IA acres; G. S. Kasso,
San FIahciseo, II acres; JOS Barker O acrcs.
a. ". Kelly, kincardine. Ont, acres. n 2,
1reatieau, . acres; h. g. Greathead. OakIann
10 acres; Il. A. Barker, San Francisco 10
| ,1cres' ~ u. Barker, Iancred, 10 acres: DR.. X.
faFor, san francisco, % acres; j. P. Rroxrn,eo
n hnic''ioine ' Ont, acres; w. II. Barnett
berkeiey, acres; NJ p. Brown. 10 acres.
1, oiiis. brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres: w. c.
Dou,ele, berkeiey, 20 acres; Mrs. I. A. Crelin.
oeae~'r ~ . ucres; Z. II. Peach, Tancred, 5
' eeies' n. =. Ellis, Oakland 10 acres: ]. Van
+r, 80, " ihhlpcs, 10 acres L. A. Vanstone.
lancieo' acres; Il. Wadsworth. Sacramento.
icres, M. A. Thomas, Oakland. acres
oaiiies 1Ialam, San Francisco, IL acres: a.
D.t'i ' ~ IL acres; j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs NJ
~ iooiiaii, " acres; G. +. Shook, 10 acres: G..
l.. preathead, 12 acres; VIM. Mckay. 5 acres.j
~ ~ ., .. :" M Mckay, Oakland, 5 acres; Mrs p
~ Wooiey, Brooklyn, N. Y, 10 acres; Mrs. II
necAiey, oakland, acres; 7. A. Marriott 4