The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-05-03
Eon3Z1Ee Z1ZNr 2 cAzEe@ALAle ~ rese1 q

a., 90 ayers are used In plantation ,vort ~ f,,,a
~ -, "pp'neS' Java Hawaii. South AfrIca ana
one brn,..,ut the world. There are almost
nv ~ huhdred OF them at work IN uoHaI, .ni'ns
mere from California where tho troto ,''Ao"
,a are hauling logging trains IN Moiro NJ
! 49, WISCONSIN. Minnesota and Copodo a. an
.,nt,,s 20 uley are transporting supDIIas IN the
| 80 .h .s'ohS OF the West. On the dusty roads
-. ia"aIhlnt range. whore the steen grades
srC -. ue spirit OF the strongest mule tesms
So ""e'e "ater stations are few and far 10
tween track layers are MS vnluabIn Co. Fa,..,
10 .hey arc In the heat and whirlIng sond 49,
OF the Motive Desert '""u CLOUDS
Ane'e are At the present time about Fifteen
nr'ns engaged In making tractors with tho end,
80 o'' type or drive. There are between eight
auu zen thousand tractors Of this tyne of an dIf
terent makes now In use In the world va
Factories are now speeding the eonstr,c,,an 90
.nese track'laylng tractors for the use of the
uhted states In the field artillery marine corns
signal corps and other branches OF tho ser,,lc.
Ar"'oreu track layers are used in hauling sun
pheS over ground that motortrucks cannot travail
on. Today manufacturers of track LAYERS find the
war orders tux their facilities to such nm avtont
That they are not able to keep up with the conn
mercial demand >''"'
The advance Of the tank over the earth sug
gests the movement OF n living creature Yet I,s
operation Is simple, The track layer lays its
track down In front of the frame rolls over II
The track consists OF brnadgeared belt or
endless chain OF flat steel links which Is nut In
motion by large chalu,supporting wheels which
NJ into the Inside III the belt by gears II thus
resembles n 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 ridged 70
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 trnctor
demonstration for the first tune get the impress
sion that the track itself is moving upon the
ground The Illusion Is created by the fact that
ward But the forward motion OF that part OF
the belt Is taken up by the forward motion OF
the ear. n the ear Is raised from the grousd and
The motor set in motion the belt viii be seen ~.
yolying around the supporting chain wheels In
this the tank Is absolutely ut rest
There arC two belts, ON either side Of the
car When the car goes straight ahead both belts
reyolve al even speed, Hut the right and len
hand tracks may be operated independently.
Through the operation ~ clutches that ,orre-
Spond to those In an automobile one track may
be brought 70 stHndStitl while the other track
continues TO move az normal speed. The tank
VITA all its power applied on one side will make
sharp turn. n the right hand track Is moving and
the left il stlll the tank viii turn 20 the left
The weight ~ the tank Is distributed along the
whole length of the track. In the crumhlins new.
~ reclaimed land ~ The san Joaquin delta Cau.
furnta track layers travel on soil that will not
support the weight OF man. much less horse
they viii pass over cracks in the crumbllng earth
that horse could fall into, dragging harrows
'yor the uneven ground until all crevtces are