The record-union., 1891-03-04
A CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

| IIE SPIING OF LAST YEAR
= Robert a. and Neal d. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak
land, with view of searching out a suitable
location in which TO engage in the profitable
occupation of fruit-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. II. Mills, the General
Agent OF that company, they arranged for the
purchase of about geo acres of foothiIl 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. L. Hickok, 40 acres; W. t.
Barnett, 20 acres; n. I. Greathead, 20 acres:
Mrs L. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay, 20
acres; n. d. Barker, 20 acres; II. ~ Barker,
20 acres; j. T. Brownlee, 90 acres; E. II. Has
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 0 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 acres and Frederick Kelly, O acres.
so lar this had been merely a private ven-
ture of the gentlemen above named, but
III talking up the question of dividing tho
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 suggested ON all hands, "Why not get
| some more land and divide it up in the same
| way?" Then followed the IDEA OF q stock
| company to take hold of q larger tract and
arrange for the cultivation of the whole Oft,
after subdividing 1t according to the re-
| quirements OF the subscribers. A provisional
board was formed a prospectus issued. and
finally, on the 5th of Juue, 1890, the West
ern Cooperative Colonization and Improve
ment Company was duly registered and pro-
ceeded to business, with the following officers:
President, William Mckay; Vice-President.
NJ. T. Brown. Directors-H. c. Ellis. Charles
Brooke and r. ~. Barker; Secretary and Gem
eral Manager, Neal D. Barker; Solicitor. C. e.
Snook; Treasurer, First National Bank of
Oakland.
Inc balance of the tract, 373 acres was pur-
| chased 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 5000 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-
Tupted. Those who went into it doubtingly
! nave become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged to set out all their land in
fruit trees, etc, the first year. Consequently
in this, the first season, some 40, coo trees and
between 10000 and $4,000 vines will be
planted.
| 1ne satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect OF attracting considerable atten-
ton 10 the work of the Colony Company. and
number of people are now desirous of ioin-
ing in with them. An additional goo acres
have been added to the sixty acres originally
| purchased.
! For the company is predicted q 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 win throw their graceful shade.
a considerable number of citrus trees are also
being set out; quite 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 as
| erlbed 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 out right i'll the center of
| 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 n wise expenditure of money. It
is not expected that Tancred will ever be o.
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 ne
| cept Island avenue, on the colony tract. as n
county road, and to build q bridge across
Cache Creek at this point i'll order to give the
settlers Oh 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 desirous OF having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides OF the stream. 1t is thought that IL
would be very wise expenditure OF public
money to grant them this very necessary I'M
provemcnt, as the operations of such com
ptlllleS are OF widespread benefit to the whole
county and State. The attractions and com
forts of the cities are we'll known but to those
who are willing to settle on the land ana show
| that the country also affords attractions and
! comforts and ways OF making money pleas
antly, every inducement should be held forth
The following Is a list OF the principal men,
oerS OIL the iancred 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
apparent success of the enterprise shows
that the ideas and plans of the col
ony, as set forth in the prospectns so,,a
time ago, are not impracticable: G. T
| HUH, Berkeley, 5 acres; w. p. Harmon o,i,.
land, II acres; c. S. Kasson, San F'ranc,sco
i acres; Jos. Barker, 10 acres: A. w KaIIy
hincardinc, Ont, 5 acres; n T. Grcathead :
acres; X. @. Greathead Oakland. 10 acres. R.
A. Barker, San Francisco, 10 acres. N u Par
ker, Iancred, 10 acres; Dr. X. Favor SAN
Francisco, 27 acres; j. p. Brownlee I<incar.
dine, Ont, 8 acres; w. T. Barnett. Berkeley.
acres; M. T. Brown, 10 acres; Chas. Brook. Sr..
oakland, 10 acres; w. C. Boutelle. Berkeley.
| 70 acres; Mrs. L. A. Crelin Oakland 3 acres:
y. =. fescn, Iancred, 5 acres: II. C. Ellis, Oak
islno, ~ acres; j. Vanstone, Winnipeg. 10
acres; H. \. Vanstone, Tancred 5 acres; E.
", W aos"orth, sacramento, acres; NJ. A.
ihoilas, oakland, acres; James Graham.
.2tan fIanelsco, IL acres; y. Stark, 12 acres;
/ !. STARK 1o acres; Mrs. NJ. Vrooman, acres:
u i. Shook, 10 acres; c. u. Greathead, IL
| aciesi W hi. Mckay, acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay.
oahElnd, acres; Mrs. +. c. Wooley, Brook
/ iSh, ~ l., 10 acres; Mrs. II. Beckley Oa kland