Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-15
CATERPILLAR TRACTORS
American Machines Play Big Part In
Europe's War.

american maCninos RAY Dig FaTt iI'
Europe's War.
Hundreds Of American farm tractors
were in use in Europe in the peaceful
pursuit Of harvesting and hauling
when the war broke cut. Like magic
these all disappeared from picturesque
rural scenes and have since been used
in hauling heavy guns. In addition
there has quietly gone on here large
purchases of farm tractors for Euro
pean artillery hauling, says the Phil
adelphia Ledger.
Farm tractors are suited for hauling
heavy artillery because Of great horse
power This averages the pulling ca :
pacity Of sixty-six actual horses, rang
ing from the lesser types Of the power
Of 80 horses to the highest types
equaling 50 horses. From a mechani-
cal standpoint, 6O-horse- power farm
tractor does the pulling 80 % actual
horses. These tractors can be worked
by one man, If necessary, but prefer
ably with two men. AS they can work
continuously, two shifts Of men are
required, one for day work and one for
night work.
At night the tractors can make pow
erful light, If needed with their search
lights. The equivalent Of horses would
require perhaps 26 men to groom and
handle them, besides large amounts OF
fodder, watering and rest after a few
hours toll for both men and horses
The men, too, require feeding and
commissary to accompany them.
In emergency, American caterpillar
machines, the wheels Of which walk or
their own tracks, have been able to
move siege guns with surprising ease
There were believed to be, at the
opening Of the war, Sc Of these trac-
tors in Hungary, more than 100 In
Austria, and an unknown quantity In
the German empire. Many were or
exhibition in various towns. All were
seized for artillery use. Others were
captured in Belgium, more exactly
where they were needed. Heavy orders
have been placed for them for Ger
many in this country, in expectation
that later developments will enable
their transport to that country.
The war department at Washington
is now experimenting with tractors oi
the caterpillar type at various army
posts, more particularly on the Pacific
coast. The object Is more especially tc
ascertain If the caterpillar principle OF
track laying for wheels to move or
cannot be applied to various types Of
war vehicles as we'll as tractors. The
tracks distribute the weight Of trac-
tor or other vehicle, having a width Of
some two feet.
A caterpillar track must extend like
band around the two wheels on eacl
side Of a machine. The wheels ther
roll on the track as 1t lays itself dowr
on the soil. In motion 1t looks like ar
oblong wheel, IL feet long. Because OF
its length and width, it can easily ne
gotiate soft ground and rough ground
Thus equipped, there seems to be nc
limit to the tractors pulling capacity
and in this country 1t Is used to yanl
out the biggest trees by the roots by
succession Of jerks. The German ar
tillerists have found many uses for the
caterpillars, such as clearing obstruc-
tions in front Of guns, opening lanes II
forests and hauling aside the tree:
pulled up, gathering bodies from
marsh lands, and in numerous othel
feats where the work by humans car
be eliminated.