Discussion of a meeting with the chamber of commerce regarding water metering in Las Vegas. The water company asserted that their desire for water meters was solely in the interest of water conservation and not increasing revenues.
hln000756. Union Pacific Railroad Collection, 1828-1995. MS-00397. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d1st7hx07
English
Las Vegas -- February 26, 1945 W 23-1-B Mr. E. E. Bennett: Referring to your letter to Mr. McNamee February 21 with regard to amending the Nevada law to permit use of meters in cities of over 4500 population where the principal supply is obtained from underground sources. Saturday afternoon we held a conference with Carl Hyde, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, in the absence of President Max Kelch ( who incidentally has been re-elected to serve another year as President), We recalled our metting with the Chamber of Commerce last f a l l at which time the State engineer advocated repeal of the existing meter law in order to conserve the underground supply for this community. We also described the numerous complaints received from citizens of the community with regard to their neighbors permitting water to overflow into the street, undermining the street pavement and necessitating costly reparis and creating unsanitary conditions. Mr. Hyde stated that he had had some-experiences with regard to Artesian wells in California, particularly at his own ranch home where they had the flowing Artesian well and the hydro-static head was constantly reduced until it was f i n a l l y necessary to l i f t the water at considerable distance with pumps. He states he has discussed this subject with various members of the Chamber and local business men and in most lnstances their response was non-committal. The natural reaction to the proposal is a fear that water rates w i i l l be increased. We explained that we had no intention of increasing the revenues of the Water Company through use of meters and in fact could not do so even though we wished to, inasmuch as the control of water rates is exclusively in the hands of the Public Service Commission. He said he understood this and had so explained this to the objectors. We offered to appear before the Chamber of Commerce in open Meeting and discuss the necessity of amending the meter law, but It was his suggestion that more prompt action could be obtained by meeting, with the appropriate committee. He said the new committee would be appointed today or tomorrow and would probabLy be headed by Mr. E. E. Bennett February 26, 1945 Judge Foley (with who you are acquainted) as General Chairman of Transportation and Utilities. cc: Mr. Frank strong Mr. L. A. McNamee