The record-union., 1891-09-01
A CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and It's
Adjoining Farms.

IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
Robert a. and Neal D. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak.
lan1t, with view of searching out a suitable
4o5at1on 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
Tancrcd
Negotiations were opened with the Capav
alley Land Company, owning the tract in
question. With W. H. Mills the General
Agent of that company, they arranged for the
purchase OF about 22O acres of foothin land
iris being more than they had thought of
taking for their own use, they spoke to a
number OF friends about it. with the resul,
mat the tract was divided among the follow.
ing people: B. L. Rfckok. 40 acres w. n
Earnett, 20 acres; n. 7. Greatnead. 20 acres.
mrs. L. GHeathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay. 90
acres; n. d. Barker, 20 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. p. Brownlee, 20 acres; E. II. Has.
iett' 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres.
90 lar this had been merely private ven.
tufe 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 if was s,,o,-
gested on all hands, ''Why not get some more
land and divide it up in the same wavgu
Then followed the idea of a stock cornpanv tn
take hold of larger tract and arrange for tho
cultivation Of the whole of it, after subdfvfdfno
IL according to the requirements of the sub-
acrlpers. n provisional board was formed q
prospectus issued, and finally. ON the 18th o,
june 1890, the Western Cooperative Col,
ohlzauon and Improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded to business
with the following officers: President Will
lam Mckay; Vicc-President. M. p, Brown.
Dlrectors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
h. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager
Neal d. Barker; Solicitor; c. E. Shook: Treas.
urer, First National Bank of Oakland
The balance of the tract, 373 acres. was nur.
chased a contract was entered into for tbe
purchase of large number of fruit tren,
vines, etc This early purchase of trees was
the means of saving between $4,000 and
9f'ooo 10 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 tho
progress OF the company has been unlnter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtipglv
nave become enthusiastic, and almost all the
members arranged TO set out all their lands In
OF q hn Ti,s-+
IN this, the first season, some &c, 900 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines viii ba
pTanteu.
Inc satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tentlon to the work of the Colony Company,
and number of people are now desirous of
joining in with them. An additional 200
acres have been added to the sixty acres
originally purchased
FOR the company is predicted very bright
luture, as well as for the beautiful valley in
Wh1cn their operations are conducted How
this marvellous little garden has come to be so
long neglected is a puzzle to every one VIII
mas visited 1T, but one thing is very sure. and
that is that this neglect will never again no
felt in the valley
me fruits set out are mostly of the standard
Varletles-peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears.
prunes, nGs, raisin grapes, etc, while along
ooJh SIDES OF the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnutS will throw their graceful shade.
A Observation-Disclosures OF citrus trees are also
being set out; quite q 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
crtbed much of the success OF the venture.
Mention should be made of the tOvn-si+n
about which there is q pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by mora
ambitious places. a small park of some three
acres has been laid cut right in the center of
the town. This park it is proposed to beautigv
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 dili~ent
search and q wise expenditure of money. II
is not expected that Tancred will ever be 8
large and busy city, but it is thought that it
can be made very pleasant little place to
dwell in.
= petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to &C.
cept Island avenue on the colony tract. as n
county road, and to build a bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order to give the
settlers on the cast side of the creek access to
rancred Station The Tancred colonists are
quite willing to give the necessary right of
way, and are very GeSirous of having a bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along BOTH
sides Of the stream. 1t is thought that it
would be a very wise expenditure OF public
money to grant them this very necessary i'm
provement, 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 pleas
antly, every inducement should be held forth.
The following is q list of the principal mem.
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
OF acres owned by each, and q TACT worthy of
mention is that in each contract or deed IS
sued by the Colony Company there is g. pro.
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
be manufactured or solo 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. r. Hull. Berkeley, 5 acres; w.
2. Harmon, Oakland, IL acres; C. S Kasson,
San Francisco ! l acres; Jos. Barker. l o acres;
a. w. Kelly, Kincardine Ont, 3 acres; n. T.
Greathead, . acres; Il. G.. Greathead, Oakland
10 acres; r. a. Barker, San Francisco, 10
acres; N. D. Barker, Tancred 10 acres; DR.. K.
Favor, san Francisco, . 7 acres: J. P. Brownlee.
hlhctli GlAe, Ciit.. y acres, w. l. barnett,
Berkeley, 5 acres; NJ. 2. Brown, 10 acres;
Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres; W. c.
Boutelle Berkeley, 90 acres; Mrs. T. a. Crelin,
Oakland, acres; c. H. Peach, Tancrcd, .
acres; ii. c. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; j. Van.
stone, Winnipeg. 10 acres; Il. a. Vanstone,
Tancred, acres; E. Wadsworth, Sacramento
8 acres; NJ. Y. Thomas, Oakland, 6 acres;
James Graham, San Francisco, II acres; A.
Stark, 12 acres; j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ
Vrooman, acres; c. E. Shook, 10 acres; c.
T. Greathead, il acres; VIM. Mckay, 5 acres
Mrs VIM Mckay, Oakland, . acres; Mrs E
c. Wooley, Brooklyn, n. Y, 10 acres; Mrs. II
Beckley, Oakland, 5 acres; I. a. Marriott :
acres; j. c. Harrison, Tancred, 8 acres. The