Oil Men Are Watching

The campus well, as it will probably be drilled to a depth of, 3, 000 'eet, is of much importauce to the eastern part of the state. It will demónstrate what is the formation of the earth below Ann Arbor to that depth. Within a week or -ten days ■he Ypsilanti mineral water Vein will probably be struck. Recently there nas been considerable oil and gas excitement in the vicinity of Howell. As the supposed oil and gas veins always mn from southeast to northwest, if anythiug is struck near Howell it will be of great interest to SVashtenaw county. The campus well will be closely watched. In view of this a special dispatch to the Toledo Blade, from Howell, wihch reviews the present oil and gas indication, will be of value to give a Detter .understanding of the situation. It is as f ollows : "Howell, Mich., Nov. 4.- The farmers near this place are all stirred up over the action of certain private parties who are taking oil leases on farms f or the Standard Oil Co. , it is understood. Reasons for this action are the naany iiidications of oil and gas which are found in certain sections of Livingston county. It is believed an oil or gas belt of considerable size onderlies this county and runs from southeast to northwest. If this proves to be the case, the Standard Oil Co. will work the field thoroughly and run pipe lines to Detroit and into Ohio near Toledo. "The indications which lead experts to believe that there is oil and gas in this field are as follows: Sofaras known, all water wells in the reputed oil belt, which have gone over 200 feet, have had to be abandoned on account of oil in the water or gas which has prevented it from being pumped. Again, four or five years ago, a real gas well existed in the village of Howell, and when set on fire burned five weeks. Three years ago, the Michigan Condensed Milk Co. sank a well for artesian water, but after going 500 feet abandoned their attempt upon getting salt water. The drillers of this well remarked at the time, that all indications pointed to oil and maintained that if they went deep enough, they would get it. In this same, so called oil belt a well is being put down now at Ann Arbor on the campus of the University of Michigan. This well is down over 600 feet at present, and the chief driller, who is an oil expert from Pennsylvania, confidently expects to strike oil. "Farms have thus f ar been leased in this county (Livingston) in the townships of Oceola, Howell, Conway, Handy and Cohoctah. Two wells are now being put down in Conway tewnship on leased property, and there is a rumor to the eifect thatï. Óil in paying quantities has been foü&d already in one of them. Early in ' the spring, it is expected that a number of test wells will be put down, notably on the Van Keuren farm in Cceola, the Howe and Peary farms in Howell, the Sharp farm in Handy and the Grill farm in Conway townships. On all these farms there is au oily scum to be found in the stagnant water in the low places and marshes. ' '