Letter from Maxwell Kelch (Las Vegas) to W. H. Guild (Los Angeles), October 18, 1944

October 18, 1944. Mr. W. H. Guild, Assistant to President Union Pacific Railroad Union Pacific Railroad Building Los Angeles, California Dear Mr. Guild: At the suggestion of Mr. Walter Bracken of the Las Vegas Land and Water Company, the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce ex-tend an invitation to you, Mr. E. E. Bennett and Mr. Frank Strong, to meet with them on November 3rd to discuss the water situation in the Las Vegas Valley. The Chamber of Commerce wishes to determine whether or not the artesian source of water supply is adaquate for the present and potential needs of the community. We are undertaking an extensive promotion and development program for Southern Nevada, and before we can encourage new commercial and industrial enterprises to come into the area, we must know whether there is ample water to supply their needs. We have outlined, for your benefit, a few of the queations which the Board of Direotors would like to have answered. A copy is enclosed. Additional questions may be asked as the discusion at the meeting progresses. We are extending this invitation to the State Engineer, Mr. A. M. Smith, and the Assistant Engineer, Mr. Hugh Shamberger, as well as our city and county officials. This invitation to meet was unanimoualy voted by the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Nevada Chamber of Commerce at a special meeting called for that purpose on October 17th, 1944. It is our sincere hope that you will accept this invitation and arrange to be in Las Vegas on November 3rd. Sincerely yours, LAS VEGAS NEVADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Encl: 1 Maxwell Kelch, Preaident MK/mb ec - Mr. Walter Bracken QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE WATER SITUATION IN THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LAS VEGAS NEVADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD OCTOBER 17th, 1944. 1. Inasmuch as the Las Vagas Iand and Water Company has protected a racent application for a well parmit. on what basis could the permit be refused. If It is proved that this water is to be put to beneficial use? Has the Las Vagas Land and Water Company filed, or attempted to file, a blanket protest against all future well drilling in the Las Vegas artesian district which might interfere with the flow of the walls owned by the company? If this is true. what is the known method of determining which wells might interfere with their water supply? Is there any truth to the rumor that the Las Vagas Land and Water Company now claims that further granting of well permits would deplete the water supply to a point below the present requirements of our community? 4. Has the State Engineer determined the limit of wel permits which could be safely granted in the Las Vegas Artesian Belt? If so, how has this determination been reached? 5. Is it true that the Las Vegas Land and Watar Company recently stated that in their opinion the water supply in the Las Vegas Artesian belt was practically inexhaustible. but more recently has changed their minds in this regard and at present seems deeply concerned as to the probable adequacy of the Las Vagas Artesian supply? 6. What is the attitude of the Las Vegas Land and Water Company toward developing a source of water supply for the community other than the artesian source? 7. Request all factual information available from the State Engineer and the Las Vegas Land and water Company relative to the adequacy or inadequacy of the present artesian water supply.