The record-union., 1892-02-16
A CAPAY COLONY,
Busy Fruit-Growers in Pretty
Yolo Valley-Tancred and Its
Adjoining Farms

THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR
Robert A. and Neal d. Barker associated
s''eiiiseiVes with William Mckay, all of Oak
i"ho' Win view of searching out a suitable
ioca'ioh In which to engage in the profitable
occupation of fruit-growing. After yisitino
many localities, they decided on the Canav
valley, Yolo County, and the Rhodes tract at
Tancred.
Negotiations were opened with the Canav
valley Land Company, owning the tract in
question. With w. H. Mills, the Genera,
agent OF that company, they arranged for the
purchase OF about eco acres of foothin land
lnls being more than they had thought OF
taxing for their own use, they smoke tn 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.
barnett, 20 acres; n. T. Greathead. 90 acres.
Mrs. l.. Greathead, go acres: w. Mckay on
acres; N. ID. Barker, 20 acres: r. A. Rarksr
70 acres; j. p. Brownlee, 20 acres: E. II Has
le't, ~ acres; Joseph Barker, 10 acres; A. w,
Kelly 10 acres, and Frederick Kelly. O acres
30 lar this had been merely private ven
ture OF the gentlemen above named. but in
taking up the question of dividing the land
already purchased, 1t was found that so MANY
more would like to join it than the area of the
purchase would admit Of that il vas s,,o-
gested on all hands, "Why not get some more
iiho ana divide 1t up in the same way?"
lhen followed the idea OF stock company to
take mold OF larger tract and arrange for the
cultivation of the whole of it, after subdiyidinp
IL according to the requirements of the sub.
Ccrloers. A provisional board was formed. a
prospectus issued, and finally, on the 5th of
June, 1890, the Western Cooperative Col
onization and Improvement Companv yvas
duly registered and proceeded to business
with the following officers: President. VIII.
lam Mckay; Vfce-President, NJ. P Brown;
Dlrectors-H. G. Ellis, Charles Brooke and
II. A. Barker; Secretary and General Manager
Neal D. Barker; Solicitor; c. E. Shook; Treas.
urer 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
tne means of saving between $4,000 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-
rupCeu. Those who went into it doubtingly
have become enthusiastic and almost all the
members arranged to set out all their lands in
Iru1t trees, etc., the nrst year. Consequently
In this, the first season, some dc, 900 trees and
between 10000 and 10000 vines will be
pIanreu.
The satisfactory working of this scheme has
laQ the effect of
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 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
Ihe fruits set out are mostly of the standard
var1eties-peaches, apricots, Bartlett pears
prunes, figs, raisin grapes, etc. while along
both 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 sufficient number to
demonstrate that these fruits can be success
y.
colonists appear to have no doubt provided
proper care is given to the young trees. Neal
ID. Barker, General Manager of the company
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 town-site
about which there is a pleasant innovation
which might with profit be followed by more
ambitious places. A small rk of some three
acres has been laid out rigl.sr in the center of
fho fny ,ic rl- - ;e.
by planting in 1t from time to time as many
of the beauties and curiosites OF tree and
shrub life as may be obtained by diligent
search and wise expenditure of money It
is not expected that Tancred will ever be n
large and busy city, but it is thought that it
can be made q very pleasant little place to
dwell in.
petition has been circulated recently and
very largely signed, asking the county to ac-
cept Island avenue, on the colony tract, as a
county road, and to build q 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 desirous Of having bridge
there, as the colony lands extend along both
sides of the stream. 1t is thought that IL
would be a very wise expenditure of public
money to grant them this very necessary i'm
pTONtDi6Ht, operations OF SQch 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 list of the principal men,
bers of the Tancred Colony, with the number
of acres owned by each, and a fact worthy of
sued by the Colony Company there is 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: c. T. Hull, Berkeley, 5 acres; w
p. Harmon, Oakland, Il acres; @. S. Kasson,
San Francisco, ! acres; Jos. Barker, 10 acres;
A w. Kelly, Kincardine, Ont, 8 acres; N T.
Greathead, acres; r. G. Greathead, Oakland
10 acres; r. A. Barker, San Francisco, 10
acres; N. d. Barker, Tancred 10 acres; Dr. X
Favor, San Francisco, 27 acres; ]. p. Brownlee
Kincardine, Ont, acres; w. T. Barnett
Berkeley, acres; M. p. Brown, 10 acres;
Chas. Brook, ST., Oakland, 10 acres; w. c.
Boutelle Berkeley, 20 acres; Mrs. Il. A. Crelin,
Oakland, 8 acres; C. H Peach, Tancred, 5
acres; II. c. Ellis, Oakland, 10 acres; ]. Van
stone Winnipeg, 10 acres; E. A. Vanstone,
Tancred, acres; E. Wadsworth, Sacramento,
| acres; NJ. A. Thomas, Oakland, acres;
James Graham, San Francisco, II acres; A
Stark, IL acres; ]. Stark, 10 acres; Mrs. M.
| vrooman, 5 acres; c. E. Shook, 10 acres; G..
| I. Greathead 12 acres; VIM. Mckay, acres;
Mrs. VIM. Mckay, Oakland, acres; Mrs. E.
| c. Wooley, Brooklyn, N. Y, 10 acres; Mrs. II.
Beckley, Oakland, 5 acres; T. A. Marriott, S
acres; ]. c. Harrison, Tancred, acres. The
| land reserved by the Colony Company, in-
| dingclu townsite, consists of 81 acres
fe16-tfd&w