The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-10-11

The aristocratic ideas of the old world APP
pear to be gaining ground here. Some years
ago carriage driver with plug hat, with
large brass buckle on the band thereof, and
dressed in livery, was unknown in this city;
now there are so many OF them ttat people
have ceased to wonder at the spectacle OF o
person incased in green coat and crowned
with plug hat when driving q carriage. II
appears now that this aristoCratic idea is to
be extended on the freight trains, and the
plugs are required to be introduced on
freight trains. A few months ago mention
was made in one of the eastern papers OF
the brakemen and conductors on freight
trains wearing plug hats, and that IT was
also about to be introduced on the Penn
sylvania and other roads. A reporter Wis
| tied several men connected with the differ
ent railroads. The first gentlemen seen
| was freight conductor, who said he did
not think there were any plug hats intro
duced on his road, which is the Fort
WAYNE, but he had heard that there were
several on the Panhandle; how true it was
he should not like to say, but ii they were
introduced he was under the impression
that it was only for the purpose of distin-
gushing themselves from other people.
Another gentleman was seen and he stated:
mot many years ago the Pennsylvania
Railroad company notified their men that
on and after the first OF the month all their
passenger conductors and brakeman would
| have to purchase new uniforms which cor
sisted of frock coat with brass buttons, q
vest also with brass buttons and cap very
nearly resembling in shape to the fire.
mems now in use In this city, and were also
to have different style of cap in the sum.
mer, which is composed of linen. This or
der was obeyed; the first uniforms were
given to the men by the company, but after
they were worn out new one had to be
paid for BY themselves. Nov" said the
gentleman, "this was done simply for the
purpose of making q distinction between
the men employed on the trains and the
passengers, and am under the impression
that this is the reason the men are adopt
ing the plug hat, because l think the en-
blowers of the railroads are trying to adopt
uniform for the brakemen and conduc-
tors on freight trains, and that their inten-
tions are to go about it very mild at first,
but that by the first OF next spring a uni
form will be adopted by the employers for
the brakemen."
One or two other railroad men expressed
their opinions in reference to the matter,
aud they said there were about two men
employed on the Panhandle who wore
them on the P. Il. R., ana that altogether
there were seven men on all the railroads
who wore plug hats, but" said one, 1--WE
can give no other reasons for them wearing
them than those stated above"
A gentleman who holds pretty high po-
sition on the Lake Erie road said: "In the
course of about one year you will find that
the principal portion of the freight brake
men aud conductors will have uniforms,
but what it will look like l can not say yet.
| think the Introduction of plug hats by
some of the men on the road is only for the
purpose of bringing about the Introduction
Of uniform. You will always find that
our railroad men copy great deal after the
railroad men of eastern cities. / am under
the impression that plug hats will be worn
by the principal portion of the freight con-
ductors by spring."