Letter from H. C. Mann (Omaha) to W. M. Jeffers, November,12, 1935

COPY Mr. W. M. Jeffers: LA-30-6 Omaha, November 12, 1935, Your letter of September 2nd with Mr. Bracken's letter of August 26th recommending additional well at Las Vegas: I have had Superintendent Coey make a thorough in-vestigation and also discussed matter with Mr. Bracken a short time ago, and it would appear that Mr. Bracken primarily rec-ommends digging of a new well so as to provide more water for the ranch property. Mr. Bracken's statement that the ranch has had no water from Las Vegas Creek for irrigation purposes during the past summer is not correct, as there is an open spring not connected to water system which flows 285 gallons per minute, and this flow is all available for ranch irrigation, supple-mented by overflow from water facilities and effluent from City septic tank. With the exception of two or three months in the summer, present facilities are ample to take care of require-ments of Las Vegas, and our present supply can always be supplemented by pumping the well in shop grounds, which will produce 700 gallons per minute and can be operated for approximately $5.00 per day. The consumption per capita during August was approx-imately 550 gallons per day, which is excessive and much larger than any other City in the country. Should it be decided to drill an additional well and connect same to our present water facilities, we would have a considerable overflow during 10 months of the year beyond what the town of Las Vegas could use, also the ranch, and it would be possible for outside parties to file on this surplus water and obtain right to same account not being put to beneficial use by either the railroad, the town of Las Vegas or the ranch property. Our arrangement with tenant on the ranch does not require delivery of 100" of water at all times but we are to deliver water only as it is available. To provide a new well with necessary pipe lines would involve an expenditure of approximately $17,000, which does not include renewal of 3,000 ft. of wood stave pipe line between the reservoir and our shop grounds, amounting to approximately $19,000, which will be necessary in the near future. Superintendent Coey, after carefully going into all - 2 - phases of the situation, recommends against installation of new well and connecting same into our present facilities, and I concur in his recommendation. If additional water is desired for the ranch property believe well should be drilled on the ranch, eliminating con-siderable expense for pipe lines. In my opinion the present water supply from the artesian well and springs will adequately take care of City requirements, as well as railroad requirements, if some reason-able regulations in regard to use of water are insisted upon for the greater part of the year, this supply to be supplemented for two or three months in the summer by pumping from well in shop grounds. With the completion of the Boulder Dam, the req-uirements of the City of Las Vegas will in my opinion be materially reduced. Mr. Bracken's letter of August 26th returned herewith. Enc (sgd) H. C. Mann HCM