Early 20th century New York winter crews

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

New Yorkers of earlier generations had the same weather problems but less evolved technology for street maintenance and snow removal.
Photographs from New York City’s Municipal Archives dating between 1880 and the early 1900s show how the Department of Sanitation dealt with snow in the era bridging horses and carriages and the motorcar. In earlier years, department workers collected snow in horse-drawn carts, taking the slush to the East River or the Hudson for disposal.
With the advent of the car, more complicated devices like ice breakers and snow plows were introduced.

Hauling away: A truck with trailer, both loaded with snow, in the early 1900s

One way or another: A New York City Department of Sanitation crew out on the street

Different equipment: A two-horse team near the pier

Fancy gadget: A man in a derby hat demonstrates a snow removal machine while three dignitaries look on

Ice breaker: A man stands in a snowy New York street by a tractor-truck snow plow. Attached to it is an open vehicle with steel-rimmed wheels on which another man stands

Nuisance: Two men on tractor plow piles of high snow

Technology: Men watch as 'new' type of snow gatherer tractor pushes snow to sewers

Nowhere else to go: A group of workers dumps a wagon-full of dirty snow into the river

Playground: Children at Worth Street and Five Points play in dirty snow banks; wagons, tenements and shops can be seen in the background, c 1880-1900

Inter-borough: The Brooklyn Bridge showing snow and ice, circa 1934