The record-union., 1892-01-08

Busy Fruit-Growers in a Pretty
YolO Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms.

IN THE SPRING OF LAST yEAR
Robert A. and Neal D. Barker associated
themselves with William Mckay, all of Oak,
iand' with view of searching out q suitable
location in which to engage in the profitabls
occupation of fruit-growing. After VISITING
many localities, they decided on the Capav
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 Cenera,
Agent OF that company, they arranged for the
purchase OF about 220 acres of foothin land
Ihis being more than they had thought Of
taxing for their own use, they spoke IN q
number of friends about it, with the result
that the tract was divided among the follow.
ing people: B. L. Rickolz, 40 acres. w II
Barnett 20 acres; n. T. Greathead. 20 acres.
Mrs. l.. Greathead, 20 acres; w. Mckay 90
acres; N. d. Barker, 20 acres. r. A. Barker
20 acres; j. P Brownlee, 20 acres; e. H. Has
lett, 10 acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. W.
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly, l o acres
30 lar 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 it than the area. of the
purchase would admit Of that it was s7o.
gested on all hands, "Why not get some more
land and divide it up in the same wayq"
Then followed the idea of stock connpanvt to
take hold of q larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation of the whole of it. after subdivIding
1t according to the requirements of the sub
Scribers. A provisional board was formed y
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th o.
June, 1880, the Western Cooperative Col.
onization and Improvement Company was
duly registered and proceeded to business
with the following officers: President. WIN.
lam Mckay; Viee-President NJ. P. Brown:
Directors-H. c. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
Il. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager
Neal D. Barker; Solicitor, c. E Shook; Treas
Qrer, First National Bank Of Oakland.
Inc 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
tne means OF saving between $4,000 and
P+'Ooo 10 the company, the prices in some
cases having more than doubled since then.
The ideas which the nrospectus set forth
have been but slightly modified and the
progress of the company has been uninter-
rupted. Those who went into it doubtingIv
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 40, 600 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines will be
p1anred.
Inc satisfactory working of this scheme has
had the effect of attracting considerable at
tention to the work of the Colony CoDnspv
and q 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 well for the beautiful valley in
which their operations are conducted. How
THIS marvellous little garden has come to be 50
long neglected is q puzzle to every one who
has visited it, but one thing is very sure. and
that is that this neglect viii never AGAIN he
felt in the valley.
The fruits set out are mostly of the standard
varieties-peaches, aprieots, Bartlett nears
prunes, tgs, raisin grapes, etc, while along
poth 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 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 to the young trees. Neal
ID. Barker, General Manager of the eompanv
resides on the tract and to his care is to be as.
cribed much OF the success of the venture.
Mention should be made of the tovvn-eita
about which there is pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by moro
ambitious places. a small park of some three
acres has been laid out right in the center of
the town. This park 1t is proposed to beautifv
by planting in it from time to time as MANY
Oh the beauties and curiosfties of tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diHgent
search and wise expenditure of money. It
is not expected that Tancred will ever be q
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 10 ac
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract. as a
county road, and to build bridge across
Cache Creek at this point, in order to give the
settlers on the east side of the creek access to
Fancred Station. The Tancred colonists are
quite willing to give the necessary right of
way, and are very DESTROYS of having 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
proyement, 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
ently, every inducement should be held forth
The following is a list of the principal mem
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and a fact worthy of
mention is that in each contract ordeed is
sued by the Colony Company there is q uro-
vision that no Intoxicating liquor shall ever
be manufactured or sold on the land. The am
parent success ofthe 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, 5 acres; w,
P. Harmon, Oakland, Ii acres; C. S. Kasson.
San Francisco, II acres; Jos. Barker, / o acres;
A. w. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, 5 acres; n. 7.
Greathead, acres; r. G. Greathead, Oakland
10 acres; r. a. Barker, San Francisco, 10
acres; N. D. Barker, Tancred, 10 acres; DR.. h.
Favor, San Francisco. 2 acres; ]. p. Brownlee,
Kincardine Ont, Q acres; w. T. Barnett
Chas Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres; w. c.
Oakland, acres; G. H. Peach Tancred,
stone, Winnipeg, 10 acres; E. A. Vanstone,
Tancred, acres; E. Wadswortb Sacramento,
5 acres; NJ. a. Thomas, Oakland, 6 acres;
James Graham, San Francisco, II acres; A.
Stark, IL acres; j. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. NJ.
r II ~