Letter from Bancroft states that although vegetation has been growing in the spring water used for domestic purposes, that "a little sunshine on the water is a good thing,'' so building a cover over the spring to prevent plant growth was not needed.
hln001022. 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/d1416x02v
English
SAN PEDRO, LOS ANGELES AND SALT LAKE RAILROAD COMPANY OFFICE OF FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT W. H. BANCROFT, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Salt Lake City, March 19th, 1911. Proposed improvements; Las Vegas water supply: Mr. J. Ross Clark, Second Vice-President. Los Angeles, California. Dear Sir:- Replying to your letter March eleventh, and returning here- with batch of papers, including Form 30 to cover proposed improvements to Las Vegas water supply, referred to in Mr.Wells' joint letter of March ninth. As to the effect of vegetable growth in water sources on the quality or condition of the water when used for domestic purposes, there appears to be a diversity of opinion; and I am not quite clear why a recent analysis of the water from Las Vegas supply was not attached to this correspondence. February 18th Mr.Cullen writes Mr.Wells that he had ordered sample of this water forwarded to the Medical Department for analysis; Doctor Cochran writes Mr. Wells on March fourth about the matter, but states he has not re- ceived a sample for analysis. The State Chemist of Utah, Mr. Herman Harms, a well-known authority on the subject of water qualities, states that a growth of weeds or other vegetable matter in a stream from which water is used for domestic purposes, is certain to affect its sanitary condition. I don't suppose there is any question in anyone's mind but what a little sunshine on the water is a good thing, and for that reason I doubt if it would be advisable to construct a house over the Las Vegas springs, as I understand is contemplated by the attached form. A concrete pipe from the springs to the intake of the pipe line would I believe improve the situation, and I suggest that an estimate for this alone be submitted. In the meantime, I think we should have an analysis made of water taken from the springs and another analysis made of the water drawn from the hy- drants in the town. There would probably be no difference in the quality of the water from either source, but we would at least have the satisfaction of knowing that the question whether the water was impure from either source had been gone into thoroughly. CC-Mr.R.E.Wells J.R.C., #2.,