Snow plows didn’t begin to become patented until the 1840s, with early ones being put into use in the 1860s. One of the earliest practical models attached a plow to a cart, with teams of horses pulling it through snowy roads. Several years later, steam trains would come with a plow attached during wintry months to travel down the tracks so they could transport passengers to their jobs and more in all but the worst weather. A few cities tried putting salt on the roads, but people complained: “because it ruined the streets for sleighing and damaged pedestrian's shoes and clothing.” So, sand became the substance of choice when trying to melt ice.