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LAS VttAS VALLEY JUU M tiiefffftevada's Indepenc. L A S : VEGAS, NEVADA, TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1950. City Lifts Ban On Daytime Watering For 15-Day Period ^Restrictions against daytime watering of lawns in the c it M e r e lifted at midnight last night, as the board of city commissioners directed the police department to halt en­forcement, of that section of the water conservation ordi­nance for the next 15 days. The action t a k e n was planned last week, and ifed ported accurately in the Morning Sun Saturday. Con­fusion was created in the minds of the public, however, 1 when an afternoon paper published a news story that the ban would not be lifted for at least two weeks. The action was taken by the city board on the recommenda­tion of a committee composed of City Commissioners W e n d e l l Bunker and Bob Moore, and.-five Las Vegas residents who were selected from .the throng: of pro­testing citizens who attended an indignation meeting on the low water pressure last week. Harry Miller, spokesman for the committee, told the city com­mission it had been decided to recommend a trial period of vol­untary conservation o f water. He: pointed out if all residents confine their watering to light sprinkling, there will be no need for an enforced ban. Miller told ..the 'com missfafligigj [ it has been His p’biervation that Nevadans will cooperate in such a project more readily on a vol­untary basis than if compelled. “It’s when you tell the people of Nevada" they can’t do some­thing that they go ahead and do tf ” -Miller observed. I A S V E G A S , N E V A D A The committee asked citizens to keep their eyes open for water wastage in their neighborhoods, and if they observe such a vio­lation, either bring the violator in lin e ’b y ‘ personal appeal, or if that fails, call the police, Regarding prospects for more water in future years, Miller spoke to the commissioners as former president o f the Las Vegas Valley Water District board o f directors. He said it is ! possible that water from Hen-derson m i g h t be available through a water line to Las I Vegas as early as the middle of next summer. He stated that the district must hold a bond election, probably in November, and conclude current negotiations with the Union Pa­cific Railroad to purchase the Las Vegas city water system. The railroad, Miller said, is now at work oh an inventory of as­sets, in order that a fair price can be set on the utility. Miller detailed progress o f ne­gotiations between directors of the district and the Colorado River Commission for 10,000,000 gallons of water daily, which ; would be piped into Las Vegas /(from the Basic Magnesium plant. He also said the district is' at­tempting to purchase the pump­ing and pipeline system which brings Lake Mead water to Hen­derson, and said it may be pos­sible to acquire it for one dollar. Commissioner Bunker said he considered Miller’s ideas about water from Henderson next sum­mer “highly optimistic,’’ and re­marked that if the water district can realize this within two. d r three years, it will be a consider­able accomplishment. Miller was asked what effect it would have on the water > dis­trict’s plans if the city were to purchase the Las ’ Vegas Land and Water Co., and he stated such a deal would wreck the en­tire district program, since a vital factor in the plan is revenue from water users in Las Vegas. After the commissioners agreed i suspend enforcement of the tty ordinance provision covering aytime sprinkling, City Engi- |eer W. C. AndersoiL was di-ected to keep a close check on he water company during the text 15 days>: to ascertain that sufficient water is toeing supplied. ! A motion was passed to re­vest the Nevada Public Service iommission to send a represen-ative to Las Vegas; at once to fivestigate all phases o f the Vater shortage, and force the fnion Pacific to provide addi-tonal facilities.