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VQL. XLI1, NO. 179 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1950 Lawn Watering Curbs Now Up To # g a s Citizens From now on in, its up to the citizens of Las Vegas whether water use restrictions will be put back in force, the city commis­sion decided yesterday. - The commission accepted with favor a recommendation of a special committee which asked the city to lift all watering re­strictions immediately except those covering wastage, arid at the same time notified the city clerk to ask the public service commission for a hearing to de­cide what the Las Vegas Land and Water company can do to assure an adequate supply of water for the remainder of the summer and next year,, if the T^HVegas valley water district iSPr functioning by that time. The commission pointed out that the cooperation of the clt izens is mandatory if lifting of sprinkling-restrictions is to be successful. The police department was no­tified that persons no longer were to be haled into court for watering “ out of hours’ ’ but add­ed that those who wasted water 1 still are subject to arrest. In effect, the commission used an executive order in the crisis, as the ordinance regulating the use of water still is in effect, and if citizens do not police themsel­ves when using water, the full force of the ordinance can be used. ' Harry Miller, a member of the special committee and past pres­ident of the valley water district, paid the public a complimenx when he said: “ I think if the public knows i that they have to conserve the water, it .will. But, in my years here, I ’ve come to the conclus­ion that you just can’t make a Las Vegan do anything by just passing a law.” Commissioner Wendel Bun­ker;, in connectiont with the wa­ter problem,, asked that C i t y Engineer C. W. Anderson make special, checks on master flow meters at water company pumps to see that there is no reduction in the supply of water. Commissioner Bunker also made the motion to have the pub­lic service commission conduct a hearing as soon as possible, with Commissioner William Pec-cole seconding the motion. During the meeting, Miller out­lined the water district’s, plans in the future and said that the district hopes to be in a position to supply Vegas valley with wa­ter by this time next year. He explained that, the water company’s decision to negotiate sale of the utility, has speeded the program and pointed out .that the district hopes to be able to call a special bond election tl “ sometime in November.” “ I hope that the water district can get going by that time,” Commissioner Bunker broke in “ put I think it is a little t o o optimistic.”- In reply to a query- by Com missioner Peceole who wanted to know what effect city purchase of the water system would have on the water districts plans,.Mil­ler answered: ‘The whole program would die,” _ J " Miller pointed out that most of the district’s program is pre­dicated | on revenue from • water sales to Las Vegas. The water district spokesman indicated that negotiations are under way with the Colorado riv­er commission whereby the wa­ter district might take over the Henderson system, giving t h e district complete distribution of water, through out Vegas valley.