The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-05-24

uaes hyers are used In plantation work In Cubn
os rnnppines Java, Hawaii. South Africn and
- on hroughout the world. There are almost
Ie HunureI OF Them nt work In Hawaii. taken
nsre from california where the tractor nourishes.
Ihey are hauling logging trains IN Maine Mon.
ana- Wisconsin. Minnesota and Canada a. an.
oenuy AZ they are transporting supplies IN the
mining regions OF the West. On the dusty roads
or me Panamint range. where the steep rrndes
wear down the spirit OF the strongest mule teams
eno "hene water stations are few and far be
tween, track layers are az valuable for frelghtinV
~ they are In the heat and whiriing snpd clouds
Of the Mojave Desert.
There are at the present time about fifteen
nrms engaged In making tractors with the end.
1em belt type OF drive, There are between eIRht
and ten thousand tractors OF this type OF all DIFF
ferent makes now In use In the world.
Factories are now speeding the construction OF
these traek|aying tractors for the use Of the
United States In the neld artillery. marine corps,
mgnal corps and other branches OF the service.
Armored track layers are used In hauling sup
piles over ground that motortrucks cannot travel
on Today manufacturer Of track layers nnd the
war orders tax their facilities TO such an extent
that they are not able to keep up with the com
merciAl demand.
The advance OF the tank over the earth sug-
gestH the movement OF n living creature. Yet It's
operation IL simple. The track layer lays In
nrpck down In front Of the frame, rolls over H.
WlCA1 " w AkuAh huu NtHtuNH ~ HTNNtNas
The track consists OF a broad-geared belt or
andiess chain OF fiat STEEL links, which Il put in
motion by large chain-supporting wheels which
Ut into the inside Of the belt by gears. II thus
resembles a belt stretched around the front and
rear wheels OF nm automobile and presenting a
aat surface on the ground.
Tue outside Of the belt IL comprised OF broad
linkn known a. track plates which are ndged 10
prevent their slipping. The inside OF the belt
contains the twin tracks upon which rest the
rollers that support the weight OF the tractor.
Nine out Of ten persons who watch n tractor
demonstration for the hrst time get the impress
sion that the track itself n moving upon the
ground. The illusion IL created By the fact that
the top Of the belt Ia observed TO be going for
ward. But the forward motion OF that part Of
the belt Il taken M by the forward motion Of
the car. n the car IL raised from the ground and
the motor set In motion the belt viii be seen ~
volving around the supporting chain wheels. In
fhds cnse the tank n absolutely at rest.
There are two belts. one on either side Of the
ear. When the chr goes straight ahead both belts
rsvolve at even speed. But the right and left
hand tracks may be operated Independently.
Through the operation vi clutches that CORE
uDond 20 those In an automobile one track may
Be brought 10 q siandstiil while the other track
continues TO move AZ normal speed. The tank
Win all In power applied on one side VIII make
! sharp turn. II the right hand track Il moving and
tbe let Is sITl the tank wfi turn to the left.
me weight OF tho tank Ia distributed along the
whole lsnhah Of the treek. In the crumbling new
IL reclaimed land OF the San Joaquin deha, Cali
Horuia. track layers travel on soil that win not
Emuport the weight Of a man, much les a horse.
hhav wfIi paas over cracks IN the crumblinG earth
khef q horse could fall Into, dragging harrows
hysr the uneven ground unul all crevier are