USGS
Bench Mark
"DW 4720"

ca. 1898

Jerry Penry
February 18, 2012

This bench mark is a good example of a USGS copper bolt used in the late 1890's. The original description stated it was located at a place known as Mowatts Siding along the Black Hills & Fort Pierre narrow gauge railroad through Elk Creek Canyon. It was set ten feet north of the tracks. This railroad was completely washed out during a flood in 1907 and never rebuilt. Today the grade is used as driveway to an acreage located further west. The ghost town of Runkel was once located approximately 2 miles to the east. The city of Sturgis is located approximately 7 miles north-northeast of the bench mark. Recovered by Jerry Penry and Jenny Stukel.

Side view of the copper bolt.

Top view of the 1" diameter copper bolt.

Jenny posing with the recovered bench mark.

The location is indicated by the red arrow. It is at the same approximate elevation as the former railroad grade.

The location as shown on the USGS 1898 "Deadwood" quad sheet.

Other Deadwood Datum Bench Marks

© Jerry Penry 2012