The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-24
Deep Wells to Be Started In
 Madison County
THOROUGH TEST OF FIELDS
Companies With Ample Capital To Start Within 30 Days To See If Oil and Gas Exist In Large
 Quantities There.
By C. M. STANLEY.

9y Ss vts - fINGEIs
 Huntsville, June 23.-(Special. .)-Now that such an era of good feeling IS blossom ing over Birmingham, the people of Br- mingham should not overlook the upward tendency of other parts of Alabama. Huntsville is on the verge of what will probably prove the most important era in the history of this historic city. The people of this section of the state have been doing things There is a Business Mems club which has already established a reputation for getting results. It has in a measure broken away from the stai l Ii aditions of the past. Evidences of this movement are seen everywhere. Block after block of new vitrified brick pave ment ferry across the Tennessee river ten miles away which opens up a large rart of Morgan county for trade with Huntsville, successful promotion of the cantaloupe industry and general encour- agement of truck farming, immigration, good roads sentiment, the starting of a new railroad-these are a few of the things that have been brought about by the concerted movement of the young men of this section.
 But the thing in everyone's mind now is development of the gas and oil industry of Madison county. We all know that considerable natural gas has already been brought to the surface in Huntsville and at Hazel Green, about ten miles north of Huntsville. While none of the drill ings have been over 400 feet, the New york-Alabama Oil company is getting enough natural gas so that it is able to supply fully 80 per cent of the entire amount now used in Huntsville at $1 per 1000 feet. This Is all very well, but it js pointed out here now that this is real ly nothing more than simple proof that gas and oil in enormous quantities ex- ist in this county and that if deep drillings are made in thorough manner, Madison county will be found to be among the great gas and oil fields of the nation.
 And this is the work that is to be started within the next 30 days. Men have taken hold of the situation who know what they are doing and they have made up their minds to demonstrate just what is here. Within 30 days will be started two distinct sets of drillers by two en- tirely distinct and separate concerns. Huntsvilles progressive men were, of course, eager to locate gas or oil in or close to the city. The Business Mems club assisted and the New York-Alabama company will now drill 2600 feet, If neces- sary, in West Huntsville to determine what is under this fine Madison county land.
 The other concern is the Merrimac Oil Snd Gas company, backed almost entirely by Pittsburg capital. This company will drill no less than 15 deep wells north of Huntsville. E. R. B. Martin of Pittsburg is here now making the final arrange nlents. His company has secured optional leases on 50,000 acres of land north of the city. MT. Martin believes there will be no need of going deeper than 1900 feet with any of their wells. When 1t is remembered that it costs from g to S3.50 fobt to drill each of these wells some idea of the cost of the experiment can be gained and of the confidence the men who are putting their money into it have of the ultimate outcome.
 Gas and oil wells are peculiar affairs. The whole thing is largely chance, all though there are certain definite rules the men follow who are experienced in the business. The great oil and gas field of North America can be said, in a general way, to run on a 45 degree angle from northeast to southwest-that is from the Pennsylvania fields through West Vir- glnia, Kentucky and so on to Texas. They are always found in sections which were submerged and formed part of the sea- bed in some prehistoric epoch This strengthens the theory that natural ell and gas in the earth are the results or the decomposition of great masses of monster reptiles and fishes in prehistoric times.
 The Merrimac OH and Gas company has figured the situation out as follows:
 Gas has already been found in paying quantities at Hazel Green and West Huntsville. They, therefore, ran a line connecting these two points. An oil well yielding about ten barrels a day was orilled at Meridianville several years ago by the Standard Oil company and plugged because they did not wish to open this field now. Oil has also been found in Lawrence county near Moulton A line has, therefore, been run from Meridianville to Mouton. The running of these two lines creates what might be called the 'gas" and "oil' lines. It so happens that these two lines cross on the farm of John M Hampton, well known Madison county citizen, about four miles rcrth of Huntsville. It is on this farm, at the point where the lines cross that the Merrimac oil and Gas company will drill its first well, 1900 feet if necessary. This point is practically in the center of the 5O,0O0 acre tract upon which leases have been secured
 ''It is purely chance" said Mr. Mar tin, who is managing the campaign, but we have lots of confidence in the outcome When we get through with our 15 wells we will at least know definitely whether CT not the Madison county field amounts to anything"
 If gas in anything like paying quanti- ties is found, it will mean much for the industrial future of this section.
 II am getting letters by the dozen," said C. B. Carlisle, secreary of the Business Mems club, from people who want to locate plants here as soon as we can