The record-union., 1895-05-22
CAPAY VALLEY. THE BEAUTIFUL.
A Remarkable Transformation in Five
Years.
Residents of Woodland and Vicinity
Make an Excursion to 1t
Yesterday.

The excursion planned by ". r. Ellis
of the Woodland Mail to the Capay Val
ley yesterday was complete success.
The primary object was to show the in-
habitants of Woodland and vicinity the
magnificent resources of the valley. and
the advantages to accrue to Woodland II
its trade could be turned that way by q
railroad built to connect Woodland ana
Madison. The second object was to have
thoroughly enjoyable days outing, ana
no one who participated in the excursion
has any doubt that both objects were fully
attained, the day being as fine as If speci-
ally ordered for the occasion, and nothing
happening to mar the pleasure OF the oc-
oasion.
THE START.
The morning broke without cloud
and with a cool southwest breeze that
promised a comfortable temperature for
ali day. The start was made at half-past
q 6o'cloek. about twenty vehicles carrying
q jolly party over TO Madison, distance
OF fourteen miles, in about an hour,
the Woodland brass band accompanying
them. There a number OF other eXcur-
sionists were found waiting for the special
train that was to convey the party up the
valley to Rumsey, the present terminus
OF the road. The train contained three
passenger coaches, which were tlled to
overtiowing, several joining the party at
the different stations and going TO the
head of the valley.
FIVE YEARS AGO.
Five years ago the Capay Valley was
occupied mainly by large ranches on
which wheat and hay were grown. There
were a few scattered vineyards and or
chards the lattsr being unimportant,
and very few people realized the fact that
truit-growing might be made profita-
ble industry there. A few far-seeing in
dividuals, however. could see the brill
liant future ahead of it, and the Capay
Valley Land Company was formed and
bought up number of large landhold-
ings, with the intention of cutting them
up into small tracts and selling only to
settlers, in order to develop the country.
The railroad, which ran at that time only
as far as Madison, near the entrance to
the valley, was extended TO Rumsey, at
the upper end, with the ultimate end in
view of following up the Cache Creek
Canyon to Clear Lake, and opening up
that country to the outside world. Since
that time the company has established
number of town sites and sold a large
quantity of land. One who had not been
In the valley during the past five years
would be astonished to-day to see the
great change for the better that has taken
place in that time.
A TRANSPORTATION.
Leaving Madison. the train proceeded
about three miles to Esparto, the first OF
the new town sites. It is beautifully sit
uated on high land at the entrance to the
valley. At the time of the extension OF
the road it was simply ranch; now it has
about 100 Inhabitants, with a high school,
L.
quality of the land is excellent and a Dor-
ton of it is under ditch. A number of
orchards have been set out and are COM
ing into good bearing.
Passing on two and half miles, Capay
is reached, beautiful little place of about
200 Inhabitants. Here the road enters the
gateway OF the valley. The quality of the
land becomes more alluvial and the num-
ber of orchards and vineyards increases.
The plain Is left behind and we are walled
IN on both sides by the foothills. Little
valleys are seen on each side running in
to the foothills. The Cache Creek wagon
road runs within sight of the track and is
in excellent condition. The fresh, bright
condition of the trees is very noticeable
and the places show signs of thrift and
care. The orchards are seen not only on
the level but on the hillsides. There are
a variety of crops here also. The valley
widens out TO the width of a mile in some
places and in others contracts.
There is the Figland farm at Cadenassa,
little over two miles further on. with its
avenue of over mile of walnut trees a
splendid place, and one Of great value.
The rich soil speaks for itself as you
look at it. There are about 100 people
here. The hay and grain are in excellent
condition, and the fruit trees run up to
the hilltops. A large amount of land
sown 10 grain at present will probably by
another year be put in orchards.
THE TANCRED COLONY.
At the Tancred Colony the valley
widens out again. The colony is a cor
poration, and a plaza has been planted
near the depot with palms and variety
of other ornamental trees. Here we find
magnificent orchards of three or four
years old. An arch inscribed with the
word Welcome" appears, and residents,
proud of their place, are on hand with
vehicles to show the visitors around.
Four years ago there was scarcely tree
there. Last year they shipped 5000 boxes
of green fruit and eleven tons of dried
fruit. There are sixteen acres in the
town site. L. a. Marrat and five others
planted 1000 trees the first year. Now
there are nearly 600 acres planted into
prunes, peaches, apricots and pears. The
ground slopes beautifully in all directions
from the town site. giving perfect drain
age. There is sanitarium here-but for
outsiders, not for the residents. The
place of 5. c. Marshall, the Superintend-
ent, is well worth looking at
AT GUINDA.
Nearly five miles higher up the val
ley is Guinds, place of 500 or more in
habitants, and destined Ito become the
largest town in the valley, as it is grow
ing fast. Here are a two-story school
house, which will have to be enlarged
soon, as the number of census children.
which is at present 143. last year in
creased by as many as that OF Woodland.
There are three stores, and about twenty
new buildings have gone up during the
past year. There is also q paper. the
Guinda Independent, of which j. w.
Hudson is editor. From the town site
the land slopes away toward Cache Creek
on the east and Rudolph Canyon on the
west. On all sides are magnificent orch
ards stretching down to the creeks, with
roads laid out through them. Five years
sgo this was part of the Rancho Canada
de Capay, and these orchards were not to
be seen. To-day Sharp Il Sproule have
100 acres, Frank Buck 40 acres, ". I.
Barnes % acres, w. II. Still 10 acres.
Judge Rhosds 20 acres, J. G. Woodbury. q
acres, Miller & Shannon lis acres, and
many others various amounts. In all there
are about ,0G0 acres in trees and vines
within radius of two and half miles o1