Letter from Walter R. Bracken (Las Vegas) to Frank Strong (Los Angeles), September 27, 1939

Las Vegas Ranch - Drilling well for Las Vegas - September 27, 1939. W 18-1-12 Mr. Frank Strong, Vice-President, LVL&WCo., Los Angeles, California. Dear Sir: I would like to advise you regarding our progress on Work Order 383, which covers the drilling of use and for the care of the lessee's livestock. well driller John Frewalt, who has the contract for drilling this well, and he is making satisfactory progress; in fact he expects to complete his work by the end of the level at which we expected to secure a satisfactory flow, and we estimate the well is now producing 4 miners inches, or 45 gallons per minute. He is now in a limestone formation, and is of the opinion that as soon as he breaks through this limestone ledge he will be into a body of water from which we should get a flow of about 6 miners inches. Thus far we have spent: Driller - 300 feet, per contract $325.00 Material: 41 ft. of 10" casing 75.46 300 ft. of 7" casing 195.00 400 ft. of 3" black pipe, including valve & fittings 153.62 Drayage on casing (approx) 10.00 $759.08 The work order authority was for $800.00, and we s t i l l have s u f f i c i e n t money to go another 25 feet, which I think will be s u f f i c i e n t . The 10-inch casing above referred to was Mr. Strong: #2 Sept. 27, 1939. placed in position at the top of the hole and cemented in place so as to prevent any leakage from either the inner or outer casing; this is an ideal condition for any new wells drilled in this vicinity, for under this arrangement we can shut the water off during the winter months and thus conserve the supply, turning on the supply during the hot summer months when there is an urgent need for it. The 3-inch black pipe is already in place, ready to connect up to the well as soon as the cap and valve are installed, which we also have on hand. The hole is cased down to 266 feet and is so arranged that in the event additional water is needed next year or any time in the future, we can pull this casing or drill within the casing and install pipe of smaller diameter at the bottom of the hole. The estimate of 4 inches of water above referred to was taken right after Frewalt removed his bit from the well, and the water was quite muddy; this will clear up over night and Frewalt anticipates the flow will then increase, as the water will not then have to lift the weight of the sediment it is now carrying. Yours very truly, WALTER R. BRACKEN, Vice President.