man000202 2

Thursday, August 16, 1951 LAS VEGAS MORNING SUN 1 L A S V E G A S , N E V A D A Water Shortage Hits Vegas As Pumps Are Down A critical break in water pumps of the Las Vegas Land and Water Company supplying ' Water to Las Vegas caused an urgent appeal last night to householders, r a n c h e r s and farmers, not to use. sprinklers, : garden hose, or water for irri­gation puposes. J The appeal—tantamount to an ' ' order because the break may j force water rationing throughout ! the city unless there is extreme conservation, was made by Wil­liam Johnson, the utility’s man­ager. Johnson said crews are work­ing to repair the damaged facilities, and added, he would make a public announcement •to restore normal use of water immediately after repairs are made. Break in the pumping facility caused a number of Westleigh tract residents to complain to city commissioners last 'night that the residential area was without water pressure.' One housewife described the I _______ (Continneg on Page 2) lack of water in the tract as something that “goes on and off1 like our power system,” and ex­plained that at least three young­sters in her family had to go to bed last night “ without a bath.” The water pressure difficulty brought up the controversial issue of water rate increases sought by the Union Pacific-owned utility, and city commis­sioners advised “as many resi­dents as possible to flood the Public Service Commission with [ protests.” Commissioner William Peccole observed that it has been the city’s contention the utility should not be granted ! increases until adequate water service is pro­vided, but added that the PSC would not consider the issue dur­ing the current negotiations for a rate increase. | Water Shortage i Hits Vegas As Pumps Are Down A critical break in water j pumps of, the1 Las Vegas Land j and Water Company supplying j water to Las Vegas caused an urgent appeal last night to householders, r a n c h e r s and | farmers, not to use sprinklers, I garden hose, or water for irri-gation puposes. j The appeal—tantamount to an order because the break may force water rationing throughout the city unless there is extreme conservation, was made by Wil­liam Johnson,-the utility’s man­ager. Johnson said crews are work­ing to repair the damaged I facilities, and added, he would | make a public announcement )to restore normal use of water immediately after repairs are made. Break in the pumping facility I caused a number of Westleigh I tract residents to complain to I city commissioners last night I that the residential area was I without water pressure. One housewife described the (Continued on Page 2) lack of water in the tract as something that “goes on and off like our power system," and ex­plained that at least three young­sters in her family had to go to bed last night “without a bath.” The water pressure difficulty brought up the controversial issue of water rate increases sought by the Union Pacific-owned utility, and city commis­sioners advised “as many resi­dents as possible to flood the Public Service Commission with protests.” Commissioner William Peccole observed that it has been the city’s contention the utility should j not be granted increases until I adequate water service is pro­vided, but added that the PSC would not consider the issue dur­ing the current negotiations for a rate increase.