Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-05-24

track layers are used in plantation work in Cuba,
the Philippines Java, Hawaii, South Africa and
so on throughout the world. There are almost
one hundred Of them at work in Hawaii taken
there from California where the tractor fOurishes.
They are hauling logging trains in Maine. Mon
Jana, wisconsin. Minnesota and Canada as eff
ciently as they are transporting supplies In the
mining regions Of the West. On the dusty roads
OF the Panamint 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 freighting
as they are in the heat and whirling sand clouds
Of the MOjave Desert
There are at the present time about fifteen
firms 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
ferent makes now in use in the world.
Factories are now speeding the construction OF
these track-layng tractors for the of the
United States in the field artillery, marine corps,
signal corps and other branches of the service.
Armored track layers 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 not able to keep up with the COM
mercal demand
The advance of the tank over the earth sug-
gests the movement of living creature Yet Its
operation is simple. The track layer lays its
picks 1t up again and repeats the process.
The track consists Of brOad-geared belt or
endless chain Of fiat steel links. which is put IN
motion by large hain-supporting wheels which
fit 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
fiat surface on the ground.
The outside of the belt is comprised of broad
links known as track plates which are ridged to
prpyent their Shining 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 ear 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 the tank is absolutely at rest
There are two belts. one on either side Of the
car. When the goes straight ahead both belts
revolye at speed. But the right and left
hand tracks may BE- operated Independently.
Through the operation of clutches that CORE
spond To those in an automobile one track may
he brought to standSt while the other track
continues to move AT normal speed. The tank
with all its power applied on one side will make
n sharp turn If the right hand track is moving and
the LETT is SIN the tank will turn Ia the left.
The weight Of the tank is distributed along the
whole length al the track. In the crrmhng new.
~ reclaimed land of the San joaquin delta. Cali
forna. track layers travel soil that will net
support the weight of II man. much less horse
They will pass cracks I'm the Crumhling enrtl
that horse could fail into. dragging harrow,
over the uneven ground until all crevice> ar,