Gov Shuts Down US Industries - Episode #55

Highlights

Government shuts down US Industries, shocking nation | @01:40

America Emerges: Military Stories From WWI - Dr. Edward Lengel | @11:25

Wilson’s 14 points examined - Mike Shuster | @17:05

US Mint releases commemorative coins and service collector sets | @22:40

A Century In The Making - Sabin Howard Part 2 | @24:50

Speaking WWI - Conk Out! | @30:55

Eagle Scout Memorial Project - Benjamin Woodard | @32:15

The Sunken Gold - Joseph A. Williams | @37:25

Erik Burro’s “Legacy of Remembrance” photo exhibit | @44:30

The messenger birds of WW1 | @45:25

Centennial of WW1 in Social Media - Katherine Akey | @46:30----more----

Opening

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - episode #55 - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago this week  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is January 19th, 2018 and we have a great show for you this week including:

Dr. Ed Lengel, joining us for our new weekly history segment: America Emerges - Military stories from WWI

Mike Shuster, from the great war project blog looking deeper into Wilson’s 14 Points

Sculptor Sabin Howard in our “A century in the Making” segment talking about integrating high tech 3D resources with a traditional master sculptors hands, eyes and clay

Eagle Scout Benjamin Woodard (Wood-dard) shares his WW1 eagle scout project ...

Author Joseph A. Williams introduces us to the fascinating story behind his new book, The Sunken Gold

And Katherine Akey, with some great selections from the centennial of WWI in social media

All that and more --- this week -- on WW1 Centennial News -- which is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, the Pritzker Military Museum and Library and the Starr foundation. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

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Preface

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Our theme this week is one that many of you will be able to relate to in a very direct way….. nasty, freezing, snowy, cold weather --- and its dramatic effect on the war effort.

According the the National Weather Service - when the ball dropped in times square this past new year’s eve - it was the most frigid new years in exactly 100 years - and back in 1918 that frigid weather carried on through January.

Let me set this up…

In our episode #50 that we produced in Mid December, we were joined by Dr. Sean Adams - a historian expert on coal in america. He told us that there was plenty of coal production in the US, but there was a big problem with delivering it where it was needed because of the intense demand by the war effort on the national railroad systems.

This week, 100 years ago it all comes to a head with freezing temperatures, blizzards, and an already overburdened rail system breaking down.

The wartime government, driven by the Energy Administration choose this moment to step in   - and as they were wont to do 100 years ago - they step in with a pretty heavy foot - to the protest of a lot of very unhappy citizens, industries and communities.

There is a lot to unpack here as as we jump into our wayback machine to look at 100 years ago this week - in the war that changed the world!

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World War One THEN

100 Year Ago This Week

It’s the second week of January, 1918. Just last month, in December, the Government took over and nationalized the railroads and put them under the direction of Treasury Secretary McAdoo.  It has become quickly obvious that there is a big problem with a lack of available railroad cars in the Midwest and West - the cars are were all bunched up in the east coast ports.  McAdoo’s new US Railroad Administration is working to alleviate this problem, by dedicating a week - starting January 14th to re-organizing the rail cars from where they are to where they are needed… but the plan freezes up thanks to minus 10 to minus 20 degree fahrenheit temperatures across the midwest accompanied by nasty blizzards. Everything grinds to a hal