8 a.m.
You have , therefore , 2,543,400 cubic feet of soil to dig out in 255 days -- that is to say , 10,000 cubic feet a day . That would offer no difficulty if you had plenty of elbow-room , but as you will only have a limited space it will be more trouble . Nevertheless as the work must be done it will be done , and I depend upon your courage as much as upon your skill . '' At 8 a.m. the first spadeful was dug out of the Floridian soil , and from that moment this useful tool did not stop idle a moment in the hands of the miner . The gangs relieved each other every three hours . Besides , although the work was colossal it did not exceed the limit of human capability . Far from that .