The record-union., 1891-07-29
4 CAPAY COLONY.
Busy Fruit t-Grcwers in a Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms

IN TIE SPRING 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 trac.
NJ 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 ego acres of foothill land
This being more than they had thought OF
taking for their own use, they spoke to q
number OF friends about it, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow.
ing people: B. L. Hickoiz, 40 acres; w. T.
Mrs. L. Greathead, go acres; W. Mckay, 90
acres; N. d. Barker, 90 acres; r. A. Barker
20 acres; ]. p. BrownIee, 20 acres; E. H Has.
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w.
Kelly, 10 scres, and Frederick Kelly, 10 acres
so far this had been merely private ven.
ture OF the gentlemen atove named, but in
talking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased, 1t was found that SO many
moro would like to join IL than the area Of the
purchase would admit OF, that 1t was sug.
sested on all hands, "Why not get some more
land and divide IL up in the same wayY"
Then followed the idea OF a stock company to
take hold of a larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation OF the whole Of 1t, after subdividinS
1t according to the requirements of the sub
scribers. A provisional board was formed, a
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 9TH OF
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
onizatior and Improvement Company wa;
duly registered and proceeded to business
with the following officers: President, VIII
lam Mckay; Vice-President, NJ p. Brown
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke anc
r. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manage
Neal d. Barker: Solicitor. G. E. 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 wa.
the means Of saving between $4,000 anG
S4 900 to the company, the prices In soms
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
rupted. Those who went into it doubtIngly
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 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 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 a 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 puzzle to every one who
has visited II, but one thing is very sure and
that is that this neglect will never again be
ielt In the valley.
The fruitsse out are mostly of the standard
va.iettes--peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears,
prunes, ngs. raisin grapes, etc., while along
both sides OF the avenues, throughout the
tract, walnuts will throw their grateful shade.
-
being set out; quito 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
ascribed much of the success Of the venture
Mention should be made OF the town-site
about which there is pleasant innovation
h t0k vk,f (.II
ambitious places. A small park of some three
acres has been Laid out right In tho center OF
the town. This park it is proposed to beautir,
by planting in It from time to time as many
or tho beauties and curioSities OF tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligeni
search and a wise expenditure of money. II
is not expected that Tancred will ever be q
large and busy city, but IL Is thought that II
can be made very pleasant little place to
dwell In.
A petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to &C
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, as a
county road, ana to build bridge across
Cache Creek 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 dcsirous of having bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. It is thought that IL
would be 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 we'll known, but ta
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 inGucement 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 fact worthy oi
mention is that In each contract or deed is
sued by the Colony Company there is q 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 Inn
practicable:a G. T. Hull, Berkeley, acres; w.
p. Hammond, Oakland, IA acres C. S. Kas.
son. San Francisco, IL acres; Jos. Barker, 10
acres; A. w. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont. acres;
N. II. Greathead, 8 acres; r. G. Greathead,
Oakland, 10 acres; r. A. BARKER, San Fran
cisco, 10 acres; n. d. Barker, Tanered, 10
acres; DR.. X. Favor, San Francisco, 27 acres;
J. z. Brownlee, Kincardinc, Ont, 9 acres; w.
T. Barnett, Berkeley, 5 acres; NJ. r. Brown,
10 acres; Chas. Brook, Sr., Oakland, 10 acres;
W. c. Boutelle, Berkeley, 90 acres; Mrs. T.
A. Crellin, Oaklnad. acres; C. II. Peach,
Tancred S acres; H. C. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres;
]. vanstone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; E. a. Van
stone, Tancred, S acres; f. Wadsworth, Sac
ramento, 5 acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland, g
acres; James Graham, San Francisco, IL
acres; A. Stark, 12 acres; j. Stark, 10 acres;
Mrs. NJ. Vrooman, 8 acres; C. Z. Shook, lO
acres; G. T. Greathead, 12 acres; VIM. Nc.
Kay, acres; Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland. &
acres; Mrs. e. C. Wooley. Brooklyn, N. Y. 10