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Thomas A. Campbell Page 3 August 27, 1953 Realizing that there was little question but what the basin was being depleted we were faced with the problem of whether to restrict further drilling and hold the diversions to the safe yield (30,000 to 35,000 acre-feet) or to allow drilling to continue. We realized that to stop further drilling would mean a curtailing of development and that once the upward trend of progress was stopped it would be a long time before conditions would be such that the trend would start upward again, we discussed the matter with the County and City officials, the Chamber of Commerce and other civic groups, and decided that if the people would take steps to form a Water District for the purpose of bringing in Lake Mead water to supplement the underground water, then we would allow drilling to continue under restrictive measures. We felt that certainly we should consider the welfare of the area. Had there been no Lake Mead close by, or dny other supplemental source, then our course would have been clear and that would be to restrict drilling and hold to the safe yield. During the 19^7 Legislature the then Senator C» D, Baker (now Mayor) introduced legislation to create the Las Vegas Valley Water District and was successful in having it enacted into law. You realize that Las Vegas and surrounding area has developed at a much more rapid rate than we expected and should the bond election fail this office must take somewhat drastic steps. I have not decided on any definite measures other than the restricting of further drilling in certain areas, because I have an abounding faith in the people of Las Vegas Valley in that they will vote favorably for the bonds. I am preparing an engineering report for the Colorado River Commission relative to the use of the waters of the Colorado River in Nevada. Prom this report the Commission will obtain data for the State of Nevada to use in its petition to intervene in the pending United States Supreme Court case between Arizona and California. My tentative figure indicates that about two-thirds of our future use from the Colorado River will be in the Las Vegas Valley. I am using an ultimate population of about 150,000 people. Development will not continue without forethought. The people in the Las Vegas Valley must plan - plan in the realization that they are working not only for the present but for the future. The monthly water charge of $6.50 might appear to be high but actually this is in line with water rates in many of our