Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-04-25

track layers are used in plantation work IN f,.ha
:. Ee =. pplnes, Java, Hawaii South Africa and
~ - ~ -. oushout the world. There are almost
one hundred of them at work in Hawaii taken
there from California where the tractor f1ourisbes
lney are hauling logging trains in Maine Mon
lana, wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada as eff
L.'us as they are transporting supplies in the
t.,ning regions of the West On the dusty roads
Z .ne Fanamint range, where the steep grades
wear down the spirit of the strongest mule teams
tnd where water stations are few and far he
tween Track layers are as valuable for freighting
ls they are in the heat and whirling sand clouds
d the Mojaye Desert.
Ihere are at the present time about fifteen
prms engaged In making tractors with the end
less belt type of drive. There are between eight
and ten thousand tractors of this type of all DIFF
terent 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
bn. Today manufacturers of track layers find the
war orders tax their facilities to such an extent
that they not able to keep up with the COM
mercia demand
The advance of the tank over the earth sug-
Eests the movement of living creature. Yet it's
operation is simple The track layer lays its
track down in front of the frame, rolls over 1t,
picks 1T up again and repeats the process
The track consists of a broad-geared belt or
endless chain of flat steel links, which is put in
motion by large chain-supporting wheels which
ct into the inside of the belt by gears. 1t thus
resembles belt stretched around the front and
rear wheels of an automobile and presenting
fiat surface on the ground.
The outside of the belt is comprised Of broad
links known as track plates which are ridged 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
demonstration for the first time get the impress
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 car Is raised from the ground and
the motor set in motion the belt will be seen re-
yolving 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 belts
reyoIye at even speed. But the right and LETT
hand tracks may be operated independently.
Through the operation Of clutches that CORE
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 will make
sharp turn If the right hand track is moving and
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 crumbing new
IL reclaimed land of the San Joaquin delta, Call
sornia track layers travel on soil that VIII moi
sunnort the weight of man, much less Morse
They will pass over cracks In the crulnphng earlh
that horse could fall into dragging harroWs
ever the, Uneven ground until az crevices are