upr000137 30

Mr. Bracken: Hyland Taylor phoned this morning, saying in effect that if we did not withdraw our objection to the Griffith application, he would file a protest against our drilling of any more wells. And also that inasmuch as the remaining time is short he would like to, know our attitude promptly so he would know what to do. I,state this merely as a matter of information and not because it whould have any effect on our Judgment. I never was impressed by high pressure methods; and he certafnly was not calling up to help us, but to help himself. Of course, if he can get us to withdraw our protest, that is what he gets paid for. But it isn't what we get paid for. When our protest was filed June 2, 1944, our wells were falling off at an alarming rate. There'was no sense at all in making a bad condition worse by permitting promiscuous drilling by others in that vicinity, As you know, we had discussed with State Engineer the necessity for closely scrutinizing aooli-. cations for drilling of wells, but he stated that*in the absence of any protests he had no course open to him other than to approve any ppplication submitted. So we filed the protest in order to give the State Engineer some measure of backing, not only on the Griffith well, but on the drilling of wells throughout the Valley in general, the thought being to avoid the history of the artesian, basin in California. Mr. McNamee is in Reno and will not return until May 16th. The final publication on our Well |tfo-ll was made in Las Vegas Age April 22nd, a f t e r which there is a 30 day period in which State Engineer may receive any protests. That is to say, the matter must be brought' to a head in the nectt two weeks. I do not see that we can gain anything by withdrawing our protest at this time. It is true that that is the .easiest course, but the easiest course is npt always the "right course. If we withdraw our protest now, it would mean that we were wrong in the first pla ce and all the fuss raised at the Chamber of Commerce was merely a waste of time. I I have considered the suggestion of our Legal