The record-union., 1891-05-14
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
YOlo Valley-Tancred and It's
Adjoining Farms.

ROBERT y. and Neal d. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all OF Oak
land, with view of searching out u suitable
location in which to engage in the profitable
occupation OF fruft-growing. 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. H Mills, the General
Agent of that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about 220 acres OF foothiu 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. Hickok, 40 acres; w. II.
Barnett, 20 acres; n. T. Greathead 20 acres;
Mrs. L. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay, 20
acres; n. d. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. p. Brownlee, 20 acres; L. H. Has
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres
So far this had been merely n 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
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 stock company to
take hold of larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation Of the whole of it, after subdividing
it according to the requirements of the sub
scribers. y provisional board was formed.
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-President, N. p. Brown:
Directors-H. C. 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 a large number of fruit trees
vines, etc. This early purchase of trees was
the means Of saving between 5000 and
S4, 900 to the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then
have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uninter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtinlyg
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 so, 600 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 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 a 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, 1lgs, raisin 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 Il 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 10 be
ascribed much of the success of the venture
Mention should be made Of the town-sitc
about which there is pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by more
ambitious places. a small park of some three
h,,S l.y1
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 as may be obtained by diligent
search and wise expenditure of money. It
Is not expected that Tancrcd will ever bo a
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 ac-
cept Island avenue, On the colony tract, as o
county road, and to build a 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 des!rous of having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that it
would be very wise expenditure of public
money to grant them this very necessary i'm
proveInent 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 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
pleasantly, every inducement should be held
forth.
n n no pi,,al ,,1nto
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and fact worthy OF
mention is that in each contract or deed is
sued by the Colony Company there is a 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
in the prospectus some time ago, are not i'm
practicable: G. T. Hull Berkeley, acres; w.
2. Hammond, Oakland, ID acres; C. S. Kas-
son, San Francisco, IL acres; Jos. Barker, / Q /
acres; a. W. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, acres;
n. t. Greathead, 5 acres; r. G. Cireathead,
Oakland, 10 acres; r. A. Barker, San Fran
cisco, 10 acres; n. D. Barker, Tancred, 10
acres; DIR. X. Favor, San Francisco, 2T acres;
j. P. Brownlee, Kincardine, Ont, Q acres; w |
t. Barnett, Berkeley, 5 acres; NJ. p. Brown,
10 acres; Chas. Brook, Sr Oakland, 10 acres;
w. c. BoptelJe, Berkeley 90 acres; Mrs. r.
n. CreIlln, oakland, acres; I. ID. Peach, |
Tancred acres; II. Q. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; |
]. Vanstone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; E. A. Van
stone, Tancred, ) acres; Z. Wadsworth, Sac
ramento, 5 acres; NJ A. Thomas, Oakland, 6 |
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, IL |
acres; "A. Stark, 12 acres; J. Stark, 10 acres; /
Mrs. NJ. Vrooman, 5 acres; c. e. Shook. 10 |
acres; c. Z. Greathead IL acres; VIM. Nc
Kay, 5 acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland, 8 |
acres; Mrs. E. c. Wooley, Brooklyn, N. Y, 10 |
acres; Mrs. H. Beckley, Oakland, acres Il. |
A. Marriott, acres; J. c. Harrison, Tancred, |