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Mr. #. F. Ashby: hom b Los Angeles - November 7> 1 9 ^ (00 - Nr. V Mr. V —---‘Mr. 1 Mr. R H. Guild R. Bracken S. Bennett B. Benton ) My letter of October 2|rd advised of an invitation extended to officers of the LVLfcW and HR Cos. to sect with Directors of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce on Norember 3rd to discuss matters per­taining to the local water situation. 1%e meeting was attended on our part by Messrs. Bracken, MoNames and Folger of Las Vegas and Messrs. Guild, Bennett, Denton and myself from Los Angeles; representing the State were State Engin­eer A. M. Smith and his Assistant, Hugh Shambsrgsr, and the commun­ity was rsprssentsd by about 75* including the Board of Directors of the Chamber, member# of the City Council and the County Commieelon, and a number of large property owners in the Valley. the highlight* of the dlsoueeien wore: 1, Xt is definitely eetablished there ie a decline in hydrostatic preseures throughout the Valley, Indicating deple­tion of the underground eupply faster than the rate of reoharge. S. The recharge originate# principally from snowfall in the mountains surrounding Las Vegas Valley. Actual survey of this watershed has not been mads, nor have records been kept as to preolpltation occurring thereon, nor have any measurement# been made to Indicate the approximate percent of such precipita­tion that finds its way into the underground reservoir versus the runoff which becomes a total loss for domsstlo or agricul­tural use. Stats Engineer advised that such survey is new under way by State authorities with the aeslstanoe of a geologist and engineer furnished by the United State# Reclamation Bureau, and that in m matter of a year or two some fairly dependable figures will be available. Mr. Smith advised that since he took office nine years ago his Department has kept a fairly accurate rsoord of hydro­static pressures and weirings of producing wells in the Lae Vegas Artesian Belt, and he stated such rseords dearly indicate that the underground reservoir le being depleted faster than reoharge ooours. He stated that there are now about ^50 producing wells in the Valley, and that in view of the depletion now occurring, careful consideration must be given by his offloe to applications for further drilling ground waters in Nevapdear mairtes .t he Hep rborpoeurgthyt ofo utth et haStta tteh,e uanndde ur­nder the law the State Engineer is the custodian thereof, and that the