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^ QUESTION* Hasn’t the State of Nevada already been granted so much water there in Lake Mead? MR. S^ITH* The State of Nevada has a contract with the Department of the Interior for the withdrawal of 300,000 acre feel per year from the Colorado River water storage in Lake Mead, QUESTION* As an individual, how would an individual acquire that water? Say we wanted to put in a pumping plant, could we apply through your office? MR. SMITH* To make an appropriation, yes* apply for an appropriation sufficient to meet the needs, MR. KALTENBORN* You say the water should be brought in from the Lake — Who is going to assume the responsibility of bringing the water in - the present Water Company - Las Vegas, or who? And if they expect Las Vegas to do it, are they going to take over the existing Water Company? Someone has to take the bitter with the sweet. We just got through hiring an executive for the Chamber of Commerce of no mean ability -Mr, Hyde - to influence people to come here and invest. Did we make a mistake in hiring this man and then admitting that we have no water? MR. SMITH* I think we have answered that as best we can, Mr. Kaltenbom. There’s water available from Mead Lake sufficient for all needs here. We tried to point out that if it is brought in here, we can insure a permanent supply for all future growth, including industries, At the same time, the water you have here now is cheaper water and better water, and should be conserved to the utmost limit. MR. KALTENBORN* What agency could bring the water in? MR. SMITH* A number of agencies can bring it in. Its up to the City of Las Vegas to say who. The State could do so through legislation. There are various steps to be taken first. We don’t propose to stand here and tell you what you should do. MR. GRANT* Don’t we have statutes that cover power districts? MR. SMITH* Statutes for irrigation districts and under the new under­ground water law - artesian districts like you have here, MR. GRANT* Has your office given any study to that question? The reason I ask that - a few years back, I had considerable correspondence with Gray Mashburn, our Attorney General, in which he urged people interested in this area to create a water district, in order that we may make application for an appropriation of water from Lake Mead, Since this thing has come up, it runs through my mind that we have statutes on irrigation districts that, possibly by amendment, could be broadened enough to include water districts along the lines of power districts, where they might bond themselves and take over the existing system if and when it is offered for sale. It would be a Governmental function, and wouldn’t be under the close scrutiny that the Las Vegas Land & Water Company would be under. It would have the backing of the State - not financially, but morally, as it would be a child of the State, I’m going up there and will see Gray, and go into the thing with him, I wondered whether your office has ever given any thought to such a setup, acting through a water district, to get the cooperation of all concerned, including the Las Vegas Land ft. Water Company. They may need the additional water. They may be willing to cooperate with the water (10)