A NEW INDUSTRY IN MIDDLE PARK 

 THE COLLECTION OF LODGEPOLE PINE CONES. 



Arthur T. Upson '10. 



A new industry has recently arisen in Middle Park, Colorado. 

 It had its beginning when the Arapaho National Forest, in the fall 

 of 1910, began on a commercial scale the collection of lodgepole 

 pine cones for seed extraction. Although but five years have 

 elapsed since its introduction, the industry has become locally of 

 considerable importance; many settlers in Upper and Central 

 Middle Park now look eagerly forward to each cone collecting 

 season as a time when they may materially increase their reg- 

 ular incomes. The initial results of the first year's work proved 

 it to be a success, and at the beginning of the third season (1912) 

 the Idlewild Seed Extraction Plant was built by the Forest Ser- 

 vice to supply necessary lodgepole pine seed for reforestation on 

 the Arapaho and other Colorado Forests. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCALITY. 



Middle Park, comprising about 75 per cent of the Arapaho 

 National Forest, lies 100 miles northwest of Denver. The Park, 

 which is nearly square with an area of roughly estimated at 1,600 

 square miles, is bounded on three sides by the Continental Divide 

 and on the west by the Gore Range. It's railroad, the Denver 

 and Salt Lake (Moffat Road), passes first through Vasquez, a 

 siding about one mile from the Idlewild Seed Extraction Plant, 

 and then through the towns of Fraser, Tabernash, Granby, Hot 

 Sulphur Springs, and Parshall on its route. Approximately 85 

 per cent of the population of the Park, which is roughly 2,000 

 inhabitants, is tributary to these towns; and from these points 

 lodgepole pine cones are collected and shipped. 



PAST WORK. 



The Forest Service began this work in September, 19 lo, 

 when they were able to induce the settlers to collect and deliver 

 1,718 bushels of cones. As soon as Forest officers had deter- 

 mined the average amount which could be collected and delivered 

 to the cone house, seventy-five cents per bushel was offered as 



