With the completion of a new well near the springs, the Las Vegas Land and Water Co. was going to use the water from one of the springs for irrigation.
The water shortage was causing concern for the railroad because low water levels caused the well to spew sand which was very bad for the trains. A new well was needed to increase supply of water.
Knickerbocker asks Bracken how much water the Las Vegas Land and Water Co. could use from the new artesian well to make sure they are qualified to appropriate all the water from it.
LVL&WC executives had been called to a meeting with the Utilities Commission about water shortages, and W. H. Comstock was seeing if they could quickly increase capacity before the meeting.
The new well of the Las Vegas Land and Water Company was throwing sand. The author believed the problem would correct itself in a few days, but if not, they Company might need to construct a settling pond.
The temporary expedients they used to bring the new well into production, like the makeshift settling pond, needed to be permanently settled before the state and county health authorities got involved. The office of Mr. Osborne and Engineer McKee is mentioned.