The Importance of the Federal Road Act

Melloy Dodge would like to introduce you to the history of The Federal Road Act. For many decades, roads in the earlier centuries consisted of muddy trails just big enough for a horse and carriage. Not soon after the invention of the first gasoline-powered Motorwagen, by Karl Benz that you can read about here, people started to care more about roads than ever before. Since the 1900’s roads have been considered the state and local responsibility to repair, but that decision to do so was entirely up to them and oftentimes roads were not managed the way they should have been. 

Because of the lack of care roads were receiving, the federal government created the Office of Road Inquiry in 1893, for the sole purpose of advising state and local officials on the best method to improve and maintain their roads. The automobile industry and automotive consumers skyrocketed in the first part of the 1900s and the need for better roads became increasingly apparent. 

In 1902, Martin Dodge advocated for “federal aid” to states. After a bill was drafted, the federal aid bill was introduced to Congress in 1902. It stated that the federal government would cover 50% of the cost of the road, and the state would pay the other half as long as they agreed to the road contracts designed by the government and supervised the construction of said contracts. Of course, this meant that everyone had to pay taxes to cover the cost of road construction and upkeep, and not everyone was willing to pay. 

Ultimately, in 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the act into law. This provided rural communities and cities with good roads. The act initially began at 75 million in federal money and 50/50 matching funds that would cover 6% of the state's roads over a 5 year period. Without this act, community growth and good roads would be way behind where it sits today. It’s really nice to drive on roads that are better than driving to work on all dirt roads, muddy and unmaintained!

Melloy Dodge continues to get new inventory daily, and if you are looking for something we don’t have in stock, we can order it! Let  Melloy Dodge work hard to make sure our customers have the vehicle of their dreams that can easily take them down new roads. 

Karl Benz & The First Gasoline Powered Vehicle

 

We talk a lot about how far the motor vehicle industry has progressed, and the innovative ways manufacturers are changing and adapting to consumers. Melloy Dodge loves to talk about the history of cars, and what better way than introducing the inventor of the first car- Karl Benz! 

Karl Benz loved to bike, and his first vehicle design was designed as a tricycle. Like many inventors trying to create the “horseless carriage,” Benz designed around the engine while others created designs to add to existing wagons. His first car, which began selling in 1888, was the gasoline-powered Motorwagen. Before the three-wheeled Motorwagen, Benz spent years working on many of its key components, such as the spark plugs, the electric ignition, and the clutch. 

Not soon after the Motorwagen gained popularity, Benz’s four-wheeled vehicle, the Velocipede, began production in 1893. The Velocipede, more commonly known as “The Velo,”  sold more than twelve hundred units between 1884 and 1901. It wasn’t long before inventing minds began to clash, and by 1903 Benz had left his company but remained on the board and started another company with his sons, now known as Mercedes-Benz. 

Melloy Dodge loves how one piece of history, like Karl Benz, and his creation of the gasoline-powered Motorwagen, can create ripple effects that lead to automotive manufacturing like Dodge, by the Dodge Brothers, Ford, Chevrolet, and more. Looking for a new Dodge? Melloy Dodge is New Mexico’s #1 Dodge Dealer, and we are always happy to assist in purchasing your next vehicle. 

When Will The Chip Shortage End?

With a record number of vehicle owners looking to purchase a new vehicle, many car shoppers are surprised to find limited inventory choices at local dealerships. That's because a worldwide computer chip shortage is interrupting the manufacturing supply chain. If you didn’t know about the chip shortage, you could read about it here and how it affects manufacturers and dealerships worldwide. The chip shortage is still affecting many dealerships, and it will be a factor for some time. Forbes estimates that the current production rate and limited supply for certain materials needed for the conductivity of these chips won’t be back to reasonable levels by the end of the first quarter of 2022. As one of Southwest's largest dealerships, Melloy Dodge is still regularly receiving new vehicles allocations. Because many other dealers' supplies are limited, we often have a waiting list and see some incoming vehicles sold even before they reach the lot. If you're in the market for a new or preowned vehicle, we strongly encourage you to let one of our sales team know what you want, then you'll be notified when we have it or know when it will arrive. We are also taking pre-orders for vehicles we currently do not have in stock, so you can purchase the exact model you want. We are also buying recent-model-year used vehicles and getting them quickly inspected and prepared for sale so you can test drive and start your loan process. The Melloy Dodge family understands how difficult the current vehicle situation is. We continue to work diligently to provide the new Dodge, Ram, and Fiat models our customers want and a selection of preowned cars, trucks, and SUVs. If you are looking to upgrade your current vehicle, the Melloy Dodge New and Used Car Dealership does have a lot to offer. We get new and used vehicles daily, and they are all available to you to test drive! Stop in at Melloy Dodge on Coors, just north of Paseo Del Norte, and see what we can do for you! Remember, we like to say DEAL!