Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-05-03
M0M5ZER INK 0cA7EJenALAe I'VE

tEaek layers are used in plantation work In Cuba,
she fhllpplnes, Java, Hawaii, South Africa and
80 On throughout the world. There are almost
one hundred of them at work in Hawaii, taken
anere from California where the tractor fourishes.
1hey are hauling logging trains in Maine, Mon
saha' wisconsin. Minnesota and Canada as eff
eAehtiy as they are transporting supplies In the
"ihlhg regions of the West. On the dusty roads
Oh the Panamint range, where the steep grades
wear down the spirit of the strongest mule teams
anu Where water stations are few and far be-
s~eens track layers are as valuable for freighting
MS they are in the heat and whirling sand clouds
of the Mojave Desert.
There are at the present time about fifteen
nrms 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
Serent makes now In use in the world.
Factories are now speeding the construction of
these track-laying 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
o. To-day manufacturers of track layers find the
war orders tax their facilities to such an extent
chat they are not able to keep up with the COM
uaercial demand.
The advance of the tank over the earth sug-
gcsts the movement of a living creature. Yet its
operation Is simple. The track layer lays It's
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 fiat steel links, which Is put in
motion by large chain-supporting wheels which
at into the inside of the belt by gears. 1t thus
resembles a belt stretched around the front and
rear wheels of an automobile and presenting a
Nat surface on the ground.
The outside of the belt is comprised Of broad
links known as track plates which are rldged 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 a 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
che top Of the belt is observed to be going for
wurd. But the forward motion Of that part of
abe belt Is taken up by the forward motion of
abe car. If the car Is raised from the ground and
the motor set in motion the belt will be seen re-
yOlying around the supporting chain wheels. In
shis case the tank is absolutely at rest.
There are two belts, one on either side Of the
ear. When the car goes straight ahead both belts
revolve at even speed. But the right and left
Annd 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 It's power applied on one side will make
a 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 %crumbling new
~ reclaimed land of the San Joaquin delta, Cali
fornia, track LAYERS travel on soil that will not
support the weight Of a man, much less a horse.
They will pass over cracks in the c%rumbling earth
that a horse could fall into, dragging harrows
cye- the uneven ground until all crevices are