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upr000229-014
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than your maximum needs, Mr. Case, when you are in full production? .MR, CASE* Under our curtailed operation we will not need near all of our water oapacity, The full amount would not be used in the winter months even on full production, but we would need all of it during the summer if we ran 10 unitaf we couldn’t spare very muoh, MR, DOWN* In particular, does the Las Vegas Land & Water Company or the Union Pacific Railroad contemplate finding an additional supply of water to add to what they have from underground sources or do they expect to sit tight and take from underground waters all they can, and have the people acquire additional water for their needs? Is either oonoem planning on an additional supply for the Valley and the City above what they know will be the maximum supply from under­ground waters? We will assume that the underground water source at the present time is producing its maximum, and we feel that the City will grow considerably, which in turn will require additional water, which will mean water from additional sources - from springs in the hills or Lake Mead, Do they contemplate doing it? MR, STROM}# We have made no plans for that. We, however, will not try to avoid any responsibility that may go along with our franchise as a public utility. We, of course* expect compensation on the investment we are required to make. There are a great many questions I cannot answer. The water does not belong to us. It belongs to the State, doesn’t it? We must give the matter some study. The real answer to that is - its a State problem, CHAIRMAN KELCH* Perhaps I can restate the question in a different manner, and perhaps get a different slant on the thing. The way I look at the water question is, it was originally established by the Railroad for their necessity. In other words, the supplying of water as a public utility grew as the town grew, and the obligation rested on the Union ftioifio to continue it. One way of looking at it is — the necessity for water is expanding, and is the Union Pacific willing to expand this side activity? Would the Union fticifio feel that the water for Las Vegas i3 strictly a side issue, and that If some other corporation or municipality or State group would want to augment the water supply, would that be in line with the UP’s thinking? MR, STRONG# We would have no objection to its being augmented by public or private interests. We would encourage it, CHAIRMAN KELCH# Are there any questions from the group? MR, GRIFFITH# I might assume from Engineer Smith’s statements that the waters of the Colorado River are not to be appropriated subject to appropriation of communities other than the State of Nevada, MR. SMITH* I take your question to mean whether the State would exclu­sively limit the appropriation of Colorado River waters? Not at all. We are governed entirely by the law in that matter but it seems to me in this case that if that resource was acquired by the State, and held by the State, and supplied to the public at cost, that would be the best way to serve the public with the water that we have available, MR. GRIFFITH# It still is my opinion that the water is subject to appropriation to individuals and corporations, MR. SMITH# So far as its unappropriated, that’s true. 0 )