Following complaints from the ice plant about low water pressure, Bracken discovered a leak in the pipeline and a partially blocked intake at the springs.
hln001030. Union Pacific Railroad Collection, 1828-1995. MS-00397. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d19k48t03
English
Low pressure of water at ice plant. Las Vegas, Nev., April 13, 1912. Mr. H.I. Bettis, Vice Pres., Las Vegas Land & Water Co., Los Angeles, Cal. Dear Sir: For the past week, Mr. Lloyd, manager at the ice plant, has been complaining about the low pressure of water, stating that their gauge showing only a pressure of twenty pounds, and that this amount was not sufficient to carry water to their cooling tanks, and they are compelled to use temporary pumps for same. I explained to Mr. Lloyd that I knew nothing about this matter, as it was not handled through me, as agent of the Las Vegas Land & Water Company. However, Reeder and I went over the pipe line today to the reservoir. I found a big leak about half way up the pipe line. At the reservoir; found the boards covering the box had been removed and taken away and the cause for low pressure was that the perforated drum of the eighteen inch supply pipe was covered with moss and other vegetation. Reeder got down in there and cleaned it out thoroughly, and in a few moments time there was the usual pressure given to the town. I would like you to insist that the boards covering this supply box,at the reservoir, be put back on, and that HIB.- NO 2. that they be installed with hinges and hasp ,so that came can be thoroughly locked from others who have no business handling the water. The covering^spring which supplies this reservoir box was in good shape, and the flow from this spring,through the twelve inch cement pipe,is as strong as ever. Yours truly, WRB.-AH. Agent.