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Las Vegas - November 10, 1944 (Personal) Mr. W» M. Jeffersj Referring to telephone conversation date with Ur. Cope regarding discussion of the water situation here with the Chamber of Commerce iovember 3. I understand Mr. SulId furnished you with details under date of November 6, and Mr. Strong sent me copy of his letter November 7 to Hr. Ashby, which contains a very good report of the discussion at the meeting. However I wished to advise you the background and reason for the meeting, and that is to make the public conscious of the necessity for conserving the underground water supply in this basin. In 1940 we discussed #ith the State Engineer the possibility of seriously depleting the supply of underground water by promiscuous issuance of drilling permits in the Las Vegas Valley where more than 400 wells now exist. He advised that the policy of his office was to issue oeriwlts, and in the absence of any protest he had in fact no other course. However recognizing the seriousness of the threat to the underground supply, he suggested the organisation of a Water Conservation District in this Valley. This was done and the City of La? Vegas, County of Clark and our Company became members. A water Supervisor was employed,' working under the direction of the State Engineer and his salary was paid through donations from the above named members until such time as authority could be received to pay him from the State Tax Payroll. He is so employed at present and his duties are to close in those wells which are not being put to beneficial use. In May of this year we noted an unusual decline in the production of our wells, and at the seme time two of the land owners located in the immediate vicinity of the water supply filed an application to drill an additional well on their land. We felt that this would deplete the supply of water to the Railroad and City, and therefore filed a protest with the State Engineer. The two land owners above referred to were members of the local Chamber of Commerce and felt that we were trying to monopolize the water in the underground channel.