Подорож на Місяць
Pickaxe and Trowel
Ateighto’clockthenextmorningthefirststrokeofthepickaxewasstruckuponthesoilofFlorida;andfromthatmomentthatprinceoftoolswasneverinactiveforonemomentinthehandsoftheexcavators.Thegangsrelievedeachothereverythreehours.
Onthe4thofNovemberfiftyworkmencommenceddigging,intheverycenteroftheenclosedspaceonthesummitofStonesHill,acircularholesixtyfeetindiameter.Thepickaxefirststruckuponakindofblackearth,sixinchesinthickness,whichwasspeedilydisposedof.Tothisearthsucceededtwofeetoffinesand,whichwascarefullylaidasideasbeingvaluableforservingthecastingoftheinnermould.Afterthesandappearedsomecompactwhiteclay,resemblingthechalkofGreatBritain,whichextendeddowntoadepthoffourfeet.Thentheironofthepicksstruckuponthehardbedofthesoil;akindofrockformedofpetrifiedshells,verydry,verysolid,andwhichthepickscouldwithdifficultypenetrate.Atthispointtheexcavationexhibitedadepthofsixandahalffeetandtheworkofthemasonrywasbegun.
Atthebottomoftheexcavationtheyconstructedawheelofoak,akindofcirclestronglyboltedtogether,andofimmensestrength.ThecenterofthiswoodendiscwashollowedouttoadiameterequaltotheexteriordiameteroftheColumbiad.Uponthiswheelrestedthefirstlayersofthemasonry,thestonesofwhichwereboundtogetherbyhydrauliccement,withirresistibletenacity.
