The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-04-25

aack layers are used in plantation work in Cuba
the fhilippines. Java Hawaii. South Africa and
80 on throughout the world. There are almost
one huhdred OF them at work in Hawaii taken
there from California where the tractor fiourshes
ihey are hauling logging trains in Maine, Mon
taha wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada as eff
ciently as they are transporting supplies in the
mining regions of the West. On the dusty roads
VI the fahamint range. where the steep grades
wear down the spirit of the strongest mule teams
and where water stations are few and far be-
tween. track layers are valuable for freightinq
as they are In the heat and whrling sand clouds
of the MOjave Desert.
There at the present time about fifteen
firms engaged in making tractors with the end
less belt type Of drive. There between eight
and ten thousand tractors Of this type of all dif-
ferent makes now In use in the world.
Factories are now speeding the construction of
these track-layng tractors for the use of the
United States In the field artillery marine corps,
signal corps and other branches of the service.
ArmOred track layers are used In hauling sup
plies over ground that motortrucks cannot travel
on Today manufacturers Of track layers find 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 the earth sug-
gests the movement Of living creature. Yet its
operation Is simple. The track layer lays Its
track down in front of the frame rolls over It,
picks 1t up again and repeats the process.
The track consists of broadgeared belt or
endless chain OF f1at steel INKS Wnlcn IS put III
motion by large chain-supportng wheels which
at into the inside of the belt by gears. 1t thus
resembles a belt stretched around the front and
rear wheels of automobile and presenting
fiat surface on the ground.
The outside of the belt Is comprised Of broad
links known as track plates which rdged to
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 tractor
RrSf limo Dnf
sion that the track itself is moving upon the
ground The illusion is created by the fact that
the top of the belt is observed to be going for
ward But the forward motion OF that part OF
the belt is taken up by the forward motion OF
the car If the is raised from the ground and
the motor set in motion the belt will be seen re-
volving around the supporting chain wheels In
this case the tank is absolutely at rest
There are two belts, one on either side OF the
car When the car goes straight ahead both peits
reyolye at even speed. But the right ana ie11
hand tracks may be operated independently.
Through the operation Of clutches that corre-
spond to those in an automobile one track may
be brought to a standstill while the other track
continues to move at normal speed The tank
with all Its power applied on one side VIII make
q sharp turn. If the right hand track is moving ana
the left is still the tank will turn to the left.
The weight of the tank Is distributed along the
whole length of the track. In the crumbling new
ly reclaimed land of the San Joaquin delta. Call
fornia track layers travel on soil that will not
suprort the weight of man, much less horse.
They will pass over cracks in the crumbling earth
that horse could fall into, dragging narrows
nver the uneven ground until all crevices are