Question about found benchmark

[+LittleLady12]

This week we have been visiting family. I have asked my uncle about benchmarks and if he knows where any are in this area. To my surprise, he knew where several were and took me to one of the locations. At this one, I found the benchmark right by a witness post with the marker in a concrete block a few inches off the ground. I am not able to locate this benchmark on this website, but was successful in finding it on the Topo maps website. Does this mean that it is of a different kind of benchmark or placed by a different company? Since I am new to benchmark hunting, I am curious to see what you guys have to say about it. At this point in time, I am not able to post pictures. This is what is on the benchmark...

 

Around edge - U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark

For information write the director Washington D.C.

Cooperation with the state

 

In center - Elevation

Above (triangle with + in middle) sea

2362 feet

TT91KW

1949

 

Why can I not find this benchmark listed? I know that not all are listed on the website, but this one looks very similar to others I have seen pictures of. Just wanting to learn more about benchmarking and what I have found. Thank you guys so very much for helping me with my questions!!!

[Difficult Run]

This is one of thousands and thousands of benchmarks set by the U.S.G.S. which was not bluebooked by the NGS.

 

Read here:

http://www.geocaching.com/mark/#whynotin

 

However, I can tell you a few things about the mark.

1) It was set in 1949, (duh).

2) The elevation is 2362 feet above sea level, (duh again).

3) This is a Transit Traverse Station #91, and the surveyor's initials are KW.

 

~ Mitch ~

[+LittleLady12]

Thank you for the info. We knew the year and altitude, but did not know about what the station is and the surveyor. This helped answer some of our question! Thanks!!

Edited March 25, 2010 by LittleLady12

[kayakbird]

LittleLady12,

 

I've copy/pasted excerpts from the DATASHEET of a station that looks to be in the same 1949 run. Might be a fun one to find to compare stamped vs scaled elevation. MEL

 

ML1168 DESIGNATION - TT 75 KW

ML1168 PID - ML1168

ML1168 STATE/COUNTY- NE/DAWSON

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

ML1168* NAD 83(1995)- 41 00 34.32201(N) 099 59 43.29743(W) ADJUSTED

ML1168* NAVD 88 - 825. (meters) 2707. (feet) SCALED

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

ML1168 HISTORY - Date Condition Recov. By

ML1168 HISTORY - 1951 MONUMENTED USGS

ML1168

ML1168 STATION DESCRIPTION

ML1168

ML1168''DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1951 (RLE)

ML1168''THE STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 12 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF

ML1168''GOTHENBURG AND 10.5 MILES NORTH OF COZAD. IT IS 52 FEET NORTH

ML1168''OF THE CENTER OF A DRIVEWAY, 29 FEET WEST OF THE CENTER OF

ML1168''A NORTH-SOUTH GRAVELED ROAD, 3 FEET NORTHEAST OF A WITNESS

ML1168''POST AND 3 FEET EAST OF A FENCE CORNER.

ML1168''

ML1168''A U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BENCH MARK WAS USED FOR THE STATION.

ML1168''IT IS A STANDARD U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BENCH MARK DISK SET

ML1168''IN THE TOP OF AN 8 INCH SQUARE CONCRETE POST. IT IS STAMPED

ML1168''TT 75 KW 1949 AND PROJECTS 3 INCHES.

ML1168''

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Z15]

Here is more info on why a lot of USGS marks are not in any database.

 

Credits to D.Doyle NGS

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), an agency in the Dept. of the Interior has the responsibility for producing our national topographic maps. They completed the monumental task of complete national mapping of the 1:24,000 scale map series (about 55,000 maps) in the early 1990's. USGS would often set survey monuments to help "control" the map. Maps are produced from aeronautical photos mosaiced together. In order to provide accurate location, orientation, scale and elevation to a flat map of a curved surface, it is required to have numerous points that can be identified on the photographs for which the coordinates/elevations are well known. The marks set by USGS were a vital part of this operation. In the days when mapping surveys were conducted primarily by line-of-site methods, these marks helped save money by helping to ensure a network that cartographers could rely on for mapping update procedures. With the rapid developments in surveying and mapping technology, especially GPS, USGS sees little need to setting new marks or maintaining the old networks. Unfortunately the data for tens of thousands of these marks set by USGS were never submitted to NGS for inclusion in the National Spatial Reference System. Due to major reductions in staff and the changing nature of mapping requirements, it is highly unlikely that USGS will ever automate these data.