[Londres] 5 de Mayo [1851]

Querido Engels:

Te envío, a continuación, una copia del artículo sobre la aplicación de la electricidad a la agricultura, textualmente en inglés. Ten la bondad de escribirme enseguida,

1. qué opinas del asunto.

2. Explícame el invento, pues no acabo de entenderlo del todo,

in plain German!


A                 G                   D
|                 |                   |
|                 |                   |
North             E                   F              South
|                 |                   |
|                 |                   |
|                 |                   |
Seventy six
|                 |                   |
B                 H                   C


A field is divided into oblong squares, 76 yards long and 40 yards wide, and containing therefore, just one acre each. Lo anterior es el plano de uno de esos square.

An jedem der Punkte A, B, C und D pegs are driven into the ground; the external lines represent strong iron wires, extending from and fastened to each of the 4 pegs, and communicating with each other, so as to form a square of wire, sunk 3 inches below the surface; at the Points E and F Poles are fixed in the ground 15 feet high; a wire is connected with the cross wire beneath the surface at the Point E, — carried up the pole and along the centre of the square to the top of the pole at F, down which it is conducted and fixed to the cross wire beneath the surface at that point. We must here remark that the square must be so formed, to run from North to South, so that the wire passing from E to F shall be at right angles with the Equator. It is well known that a considerable body of electricity is generated in the atmosphere, and constantly travelling from east to west with the motion of the earth. This electricity is attracted by the wire suspended from E to F, and communicated to the wires forming the square under the surface of the ground, from the points A, B, C and D.... any quantity of electricity could be generated, that might be required, by placing under the ground at the point G, a bag of charcoal, and plates of Zink at the Point H, and to connect the two by a wire passing over two poles similar to those at E and F and crossing the longitudinal wire passing from those points. The cost at which this application can be made is computed at one pound per acre, and it is reckoned to last 10-15 years, the wires being carefully taken up and replaced each year.

Die poles werden aus dry wood gemacht. As the area increases the cost diminishes ..... "The mode in which the plot is laid out is as follows. With a mariners' compass and measured lengths of common string, lay out the places for the wooden pins, to which the buried wire is attached (by passing through a small staple). Care must be taken to lay the length of the buried wire due north and south by compass, and the breadth due east and west. This wire must be placed from two to three inches deep in the soil. The lines of the buried wire are then completed. The suspended wire must be attached and in contact with the buried wires at both of its ends. A wooden pin with a staple must therefore be driven in, and the two poles (one 14 feet and the other 15 feet) being placed by the compass due north and south, the wire is placed over them, and fastened to the wooden stake, but touching likewise at this point the buried wire. The suspended wire must [not] be drawn too tight, otherwise the wind will break it.

Voilà l'affaire.

Los hombres del Comité Central alemán se han unido una vez más, y he aquí que aparece un anuncio del general Haug, que para el 10 de mayo anuncia la publicación de su «Kosmos», con la colaboración de los señores Ruge, Kinkel, Ronge, etc. Bonito será.

Precisamente trae Tupman una carta de Miquel, de la que se desprende que los demócratas alemanes —también algunos comunistas— a la cabeza el asqueroso periódico de Ruge en Bremen, están incansables en sus calumnias contra mí, y tales cosas prenden naturalmente con gran rapidez en el filisteo alemán y en el Straubinger. Esos tipos deben de tenerme un miedo endiablado, cuando ya emplean todos los medios para imposibilitarme la estancia en Alemania.

Tuyo
K. M.

Jones dio ayer una conferencia realmente famosa contra el co-operative movement, en la que atacó de front a su propio público. Me dijo que del periódico con Harney probablemente no saldrá nada, pues no se puede hacer negocio con la mujer de éste. Por ahora publicará por su cuenta una revista.