The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-04-26
I0nSZER Z1>HH ar CA7ER/9ZLAe JtoE-

uack myers are used in plantation work in Cuba
.ne rhiiippihes' Java. Hawaii South Africa and
% On throughout the world There are almost
one hundred OF them at work In Hawaii taken
eiere from Cail1ornla where the tractor fourishes
Ihey are hauling logging trains In Maine Nom
'aha, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada as eff.
centiy as they are transporting supplies In the
mining regions OF the West On the dusty roads
OF tne Panamlnt range, where the steep grades
wear down the spirit of the strongest mule teams
ana where water stations are few and far he-
t"een track layers are valuable for freiehtinp
as they are In the heat and whirling sand clouds
OF the MoJave Desert.
There are at the present time about fifteen
drms 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 dif
ferent makes now In 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 CORDS
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 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 n living creature. Yet its
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 fiat steel links. which is put In
motion by large chan-supportng wheels which
at into the inside of the belt by gears. 1t thus
resembles belt stretched around the front and
rear wheels of automobile and presenting q
fat surface the ground.
The outside of the belt is comprised OF broad
links known 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 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
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-
volving around the supporting chain wheels. In
{his 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
reyolve at even speed. But the right and left
hand trucks may be operated independently.
Through the operation Of clutches that CORE
epond to those in 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
\ slarp turn. II the right hand track is moving and
the left is still the tank VIII turn to the left.
The weight Of the tank IL distributed along the
whole length Of the track. In the crumbling new
" reclaimed land Of the San Joaquin delta, Cali
Mrnia track layers travel on soil that will not
mpport the weight Of a man, puch LEES q horse.
Thay v4n pass over cracks In the crumbling earth
Ekaf horse could fall into, dragging harfuwD
hsse the uneven ground until all crev1ses are