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WELL - Dry Lake, Clark County Los Angeles, Dec. 22,1924. Mr. A. S. Halsted:- I have yours of the 16th instant relative to the above matter, together with the General Manager*s letter regarding title to the land upon which this well is located. We are advised by Harry Blanding, Proprietor of the Palace Meat Market at Las Vegas that during the month of June he and his associates had located eleven let) placer claims in and around Dry Lake. That they had made their locations in good faith and that they had no intention of interfering with any rights of the railroad in their attempt to procure water. He also stated that if we would prepare the necessary lease or license, he and his associates would execute it, giving the railroad any right that it might desire to protect itself. It is my opinion that if we file an applica­tion with the State Engineer to appropriate the waters of this well and procure a long term lease or a quit claim deed from the mineral claimants, they reserving their mineral rights, to say ten acre area, covering our well and improvements, we will be sufficiently protected. Should the Mining claim lapse at any time hereafter, we can locate a twenty acre claim ourselves and be sufficiently protected without incurring the ex­pense of scripping a forty acre tract. If you will kindly have Mr. Mann furnish me with the data requested in my letter to Mr. Mcgftiire of July 17th, a copy of which was furnished you, and you advise, we will proceed to file application with the State Engineer and also procure from Mr* Blanding and his associates a lease or quit claim deed for such record title as they may have perfected as placer claimants to the surface ground in question. I am returning herewith Mr. Knickerbocker’s letter. Enclosure. H