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Las Vegas Review Jo u m a l-A p r il 29, 19 5 1 Vegas Water District j Gets Pump Plant Purhase OK The Las Vegas Valley water district was given the green light for the purchase of the Basic Magnesium plant water facili­ties, it was reported Saturday by Governor Charles H. Russell, chairman of the Colorado river commission. Governor Russell said that he had been advised by Senator Pat McCarran that the general services administration had ap­proved the plan whereby the pumping plant, water facilities and pipe line would be sold to the district for $1. The district, however, must agree th a t, the needs of the Basic lessees, the town of Henderson and Manga­nese Ores would be fully taken care of at all times at actuall cost. The governor said that the state of Nevada would receive credit, on the purchase price of the plant, for the water facilities at a price to be determined later. In other words, a fair price for the facilities would be,, agreed upon by the GSA and the Colo­rado Riyer commission, and the state would be credited with this amount on the $24,000,000 pur­chase price of the entire Basic property. It was pointed out that thej water facilities, which then} \ would be owned by the water dis 1 trict, could be used as security ? for bonds which might be issued S later. Tom Campbell, chairman ‘ oj 1 the_ district, said that the GSA decision '“ definitely insures com­pletion of the district plans” and I said that the entire district' il j “extremely happy” at the deep I sion that has been reached. “We are planning a meeting with the Las Vegas Land arid! 'Water company next week tot arrive at a price for the distri­bution system, and as soon as that J can be arranged, a bond election can-be set up.” ,L Campbell said that the GSA action “ definitely cinches the' j water district program.” Possibility also loomed that ; residents of Henderson * m i g h t purchase the entire townsite at Basic Magnesium plant. Repre-j senjatives of Henderson Tenants’ council appeared before the Col­orado River commission to make proposals for disposal of.the fa­cilities. H Robert Maxey, chairman of the council, said that the group had appointed -a committee to meet with investment groups to see if it wopld be possible to finance the purchase of the entire town-site, but that nothing concrete had 'developed as yet. Maxey, in his statement to the commission, stated that the pur­pose of the council was to ob­tain first refusal on all t h e houses in the residential area for the present tenants. He said, I however, that if any proposal to purchase the homes was made by any other group which would protect all present tenants, then the council would withdraw its i proposal. I Maxey said, in response to a question by A. E. Cahlan, a member of the commission, that' there were approximately 300 persons at the mass meeting in which the council was formed and the group of 11 was named to negotiate with the commis-j sion. , When asked if the council would | be in a position, to pur­chase the entire townsite, Maxey. said they were in no position to say, as no value had been set on the facilities. However, he said the committee to contact invest­ment groups had been formed and was at work. • A letter from E. H. Snyder, representing the plant lessees was read, in which the plant les­sees’ stand was outlined.' In brief, the lessees propose to al­low townsite business men and employes to purchase homes and plant lessees and their employes to be given tbe^am e right and ! to make the remainder available j to lessees r coming in for opera- \ tio.n. within a short time, i The tovrfn, Snyder said, would be governied as. is any other un­incorporated town in Nevada. Archie $8 Ryan, speaking for Dr. J. W., Wheelwright, A. G.' Klinger arid others on the con­tested grajvel claims, asked per­mission to do assessment;.work on the claims and it was decided that the general services admin-jistration would have to be com, i tacted as tl)e Colorado river com- I mission had no authority in the i matter.