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1 3 5 S O U T H F O U R T H S T R E E T L A S V E G A S * N E V A D A R e a l t o r s = / r r t A r r m f> . 1"? S 6 DU 2“I750 $ 0 R e p r o d u c e d f r o m : E. E B. JAN 3 1 195f L A S V E G A S SU N Wednesday, January 25, 1956 Let The Fads Be Our Guide Formation of an industrial research council in south­ern Nevada to attract more industry to this area is com­mendable. The only unfortunate note is that it was not done long ago. Back in the prewar and postwar days of carefree, sim­ple economic factors, Las Vegas was content to prosper on tourists and divorcees, and the attraction of industry was actually opposed by some community interests. It was felt by short-thinking “leaders” of the town that a stable industrial development here would make the community less dependent on gambling, and hence, pose a threat to Nevada’s legalized casinos. There is no doubt that industrial firms would rather locate in areas where there are a minimum of problems, fijany have moved away from congested areas like Los An­geles, where heavy traffic and unpleasant smog are only two of the handicaps. It has long been felt among industrialists that gam­bling — legal or otherwise — creates personnel problems that otherwise would not exist. It is known that some po-tvntial investors in this area have refused to risk moving pere for fear their employes might run out to a gambling liOuse every payday and drop the paycheck on a crap table. This should be one of the prime functions of the new­ly- formed industrial council; to gather sound facts and statistics on the working people of the Las Vegas area. We feel such a survey would show that they are much like workers anywhere else; workers who pay their bills first' and set aside money for entertainment afterward. % > If we are.in error in surmising that our workingmen are like those elsewhere, then a survey would bring this OUt, too, and steps could be taken to correct it. V The gambling economy of Nevada is not geared to the Workman’s paycheck. It is frankly for the tourists, few df whom come here to gamble with money they cannot af­ford to spend. We do not claim all wage-earners recognize this and idly away from the gambling tables, but we feel that the PBObjfem—<- if it is a problem — is minor. We would like to fljid <*t Actually. EDITORIAL COMMENT ON FORMATI ON OF SOUTHERN NEVADA INDUSTRIAL SURVEY C O U N C I L . #006-0