The age-herald., 1899-08-01
NEWS AND GOSSIP
 OF THE RAILROADS Alabama Great Southern School
 of Instruction. ORGANIZATION PERFECTED The Kansas City, Memphis & Birming- hams Fast Schedule Will Go Into Effect on Next Sunday-Test
 of the Beard Coupler
ORGANIZATION PERFECTED

Organization was perfected Sunday after noon of the Alabama Great Southern School of Instruction among the employees of that big railroad in and around the city
 The officers selected were: Conductor w F. Kernan, president; Engineer c. M. FL liott, vice president; and General Foreman N. L. Miwhinney, secretary. There were about thirty-ive men present at the first meeting, which number, it is said, will in- crease rapidly. Besides the election of of- ficers the constitution and bylaws were drawn up and adopted. All of the standing committees were also appointed.
 As has been explained before, this school of instruction is more or less popular h. stitution in the north, but this is said to be the first attempt to organize a school in the south. It's object Is to get the employees of the railroad together in an organization of their own, and there discuss and ex- change views on all questions relating to railroading. What to do in case of certain accidents will be discussed in full. There will also be a question box, into which any member can put anonymous questions and they will be answered by the special committee under whose head it comes.
 There are a number of experts in the employ of the road who will frequently give talks and lectures at these meetings, such as Superintendent Wickersham, on transportation" Master Mechanic w. H. Cox, on Air Brakes;" Chief Train Dis patcher Edwards, on 1.-The handling of trains," etc. The school will meet on the fourth Sunday of each month.
 K. C., M. & E. Fast schedule
 The Kansas City, Memphis and Birming- hams fast new passenger schedule be- tween Birmingham and Kansas City will go into effect next Sunday, and it is said that 1t will practically revolutionize travel from this section of the south to the cen- tral western states.
 The train leaving here daily at 12:10 D. m and arriving in Kansas City at 5:30 the fol- lowing afternoon will, after Sunday, leave here at 12:05 p. m. and arrive in Kansas City at about 10 o'clock the following morning. The train will be equipped with the most improved chair cars and buffet sleepers. Its schedule is arranged so as to allow connections with all of the big roads leading west from Kansas City, and also good connections in other cities.
 lHliS tIdlu VIII lHdht COiESSpOuuIHSIy IdSI time on its run back from Kansas City, leaving there several hours later than 1t does now. and arriving here on its present time of 4:3O p. m. It passes Memphis at S:l5 instead of a. m.
 To Test Beard Coupler
 Next Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock the Andy Beard patent car coupler will be given a public test at the Alabama Great Southern shops, and all interested in such matters have been invited to be present Prominent railroad officials will see the test Andy Beard is negro living near East Lake, who has invented coupler which is claimed to possess many advan- tages over the Jennings coupler now in such general use. Besides this coupler Beard has patented several inventions which have brought him considerable fame and money. Among them was a celebrated blow bearing his name.