The Twin City star., 1918-04-27

eH layers are used in plantation work In Cuba.
e 1n.ppines' Java, Hawaii, South Africa and
- o on urOughout the world. There are almost
une hundred OF them ut work in Hawaii taken
e' irom oaiirornia where the tractor fourishes
y @ are hauiing logging trains in Maine Mon
tana, Wisconsin. Minnesota and Canado os sH.
clentiy as they are transporting supplies in the
Inning regions OF the West. On the dusty roads
Oh tne Panamint range, where the steep grades
wear down the spirit Of the strongest mule teams
una Where water stations are few and far be-
tween. track layers are as valuable for freiebtinp
as they are in the heat and whirlIng sand Clouds
of the Mojave Desert
ihere 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 dif.
ferent 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
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 a broad-geared belt or
endless chain Of flat 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
flat surface on the ground
The outside of the belt is comprised of brond
links known as track plates which are ridgedt tto
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. II 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
this case the tank is absolutely at rest.
n There are two belts. one on either side OF the
car When the car goes straight ahead both belts
revolye at even speed. But the right and left
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 standstill while the other track
continues to move at normal speed. che tank
with all It's power applied on one side VIII make
sharp turn. II the right hand track Is moving and
al,e left is still the tank win turn to the left.
The weight of the tank is distributed along the
vhOle 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 man, much less horse
Thev viii pass over cracks In the crumbling earth
that horse could fall into. dragging harrows
over t:as uneven ground until oil crevices ara