The record-union., 1891-07-30
4 CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
YOlO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

TN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
- Robert A. and Neal D. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, oil OF Oak
land, with a view OF searching out suitable
location In which to engage in the profitable
occupation OF fruit-grGwing. After visiting
many localities, they decided on the Capay
Valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract
st TancreG
Negotiations were opened with the Capas
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 foothiI land.
This being more than they had thought OF
taking for their own use, they spoke to
number Of friends about it. with the result
that tie tract was divided among the follow.
ing people: 3. L. Hickok, 40 acres; w. 7.
Barnett, 30 acres; n. L. Greathead, 30 acres:
Mrs. L. Greathead, 90 acres; w. Mckay, 90
acres; n. d. Barker, 90 acres; II A. Barker
90 acres; J!P. Brownlee, 20 acres; E. IL. 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 il than the area OF the
purchase wonld admit Of that it was sug-
sested on all hands, "Why not get some more
land and divide IL up In the same waye"
Then followed the idea OF stock company TO
take hold of "a lar rpar tract opd arrarca c,r 81.
cultivation OF the whole of 1t, after subdividinG
1t according to the requirements of the sub
scribers. A provisional board was formed, a
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th OF
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
onizatior and improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded 10 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 D. Barker; Solicitor, c. L. 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 uninter-
Tuptcd. Those who went into il doubtingly
have become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged TO set out all their lnnds 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 a number OF people are now desirous OF
| Joining in with them. An additional 2oO
| acres have been added TO the sixty acres
| originally purchased.
For tne company is predicted very bright
| future, as we'll as for the beautiful valley in
! which their operations are conducted. How
! this marvellous little garden has come to be So
| long neglected is q puzzle to every one who
| has visited il, 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, tlgs, raisin grapes, etc, while along
| both sides of the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their grateful shade
| n 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 10 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
| ambitious places. small park of some three
| acres has been laid out right in the center o
| the town. This park IL is proposed to beautify
by planting in il from time to time as many
OF the beauties and curiosities of tree anC
shrub life as may be obtained by diligen
search and a wise expenditure of money.
is not expected that Tancred will ever be
large and busy city, but it is thought that i
can be made very pleasant little place K
dwell in.
A petition has been circulated recently anC
very largely signed asking the county to &C
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, as
county road, and to build @ bridge acros
Cache Greek at this point, in order TO give tn
settlers on the east side of the creek access &
Tancred Station. The Tancred colonists ar
quite willing to give the necessary right Q
way, and are very desirous of having u bridg
there, as the colony lands extend along bot
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that /
would be very wise expenditure of publ
money to grant them this very necessary i'm
provenent, as the operations of such con-
panies are of widespread benefit to the Who'll
county and State. The attractions and CON
forts of the cities are we'll known, but t
those who are willing to settle or the land an
show that the country also affords attraction
and comforts and ways of making none
pleasantly, every inGucement should be hel
forth.
The following is q list of the principal men
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the nunbe
of acres owned by each, and a fact worthy
mention is that in each contract or deed i,
sued by the Colony Company there is pre-
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall eve
be manufactured or sold on the land. The al
parent success of the enterprise shows this
the ideas and plans of the colony, as set fort
| in the prospectus some time ago, are not in
practicable: c. T. Hull, Berkeley, acres; v
P. Hammond, Oakland, IA acres; G. S. ka
son, San Francisco, II acres; Jos. Barker, l
acres; ~ w. Kelly, Kineardine, Ont 5 acre.
N. T. Greathead, acres; II. @. GreatheaC
Oakland, 10 acres: r. a. Barker, San Frar
cisco, 10 acres; n. d. Barker, Tancred,
acres; DIR. x. Favor, San Francisco, 81 acre
J. p. Brownlee, Kincardine, Ont, Q acres; "
T. Barnett, Berkeley, acres; M. p. Brown
10 acres Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acre
w. G. Boptelle, Berkeley, 20 acres; Mrs
A. Crellin, oakland, 5 acres; C. II. Peacl
Tancred, acres; H. c. Ellis, Oakland, 1oacre
J. Vanstone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; f. a. VaI
stone Tancred, 5 acres; f., Wadsworth, Sai
ramentc, 5 acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland,
acres; James Graham, San Francisco /
acres; A. Stark, 12 acres; ]. Stark, 10 acre
AIrs III. Vrooman, 3 acres; @. L. Shook,
acres; G. II. Greathead, IL acres; VIM. Nj
Kay, acres; Mrs. Wm Mckay, Oakland,
acres; Mrs. E. C. Wooley, Brooklyn, N. Y. /
=