When President Thomas Jefferson agreed to the Louisiana Purchase, he effectively doubled the size of the United States. With a stroke of a pen, he agreed to pay less than three cents per acre for the huge parcel of land that would come to be known as the Missouri Territory. One of the biggest issues in such a massive area would certainly have been the transportation of goods and services. However, the Missouri Territory already possessed its own trade route.
Early European settlers were already utilizing the path of least resistance in the form of waterways in the region. However, the most dominating river, the longest river in North America that joins forces with the Mighty Mississippi itself, and the watercourse that shares its name with our state, ensured our home in the industrial future, the Missouri River.
Bisecting our state, the Missouri River is an entity of itself. It’s many nicknames — the Big Muddy, the Mighty Mo, the Wide Missouri — bring to mind the multiple ways our state utilizes the 550 miles of waterway that crosses our state. Historically, Missouri grew along the banks of the river for trade purposes, but it served a greater purpose. The river also provided for rich agricultural lands, which in turn, created more goods for shipping and developed the industrial route that is still use today.
With Missouri’s two largest cities on both the eastern and western state borders and at major junctions of the Missouri River, the Kansas River joining it at Kansas City and the Missouri meeting the Mississippi River in St. Louis, it’s no surprise that those areas developed rapidly. Even today, barge travel is a less expensive alternative to over-the-road shipping, with typical barge capacity almost 40 times that of a tractor trailer, 1,500 tons compared to a semi truck’s hauling capacity of 40 tons. This fact definitely helps the environment by providing alternative to fossil fuels and keeps the companies that provide this necessary service.
The Missouri River flows alongside the Capitol and is a major part of the history of our state’s government. The first State Capitol, in St. Charles, was built along the river in 1821. When the seat of government moved to Jefferson City in 1826, it was mandated in the constitution that the State Capitol would be located on the Missouri River within 40 miles of the mouth of the Osage River. That’s how important waterways have been to this state. The site for the center of state government was chosen for proximity to these natural highways.
The history of rivers and streams in our state is lengthy. Water travel is a large part of the Show-Me State’s evolution. But rivers still play a large part in our lives today. Of course, manufacturing and shipping are still major river industries. Many communities along the river use it to provide water to local citizens. Outdoors enthusiasts utilize the hundreds of miles of bank and current for activities such as fishing, boating, hiking and camping. This large river and its many tributaries and streams afford our state many opportunities that are not present in other areas. Our communities and our economy are tied to it in many ways. Legislation is filed each session in order to better maintain our partnership with this natural asset and local areas.
This state asset, however, is facing tough challenges. Due to events upstream and misguided priorities held by the Army Corps of Engineers to create recreational opportunities upriver to the detriment of the agricultural industry downstream, there has been much unnecessary flooding. Approximately 207,200 acres of Missouri cropland, alone, were flooded in 2011, costing $175.9 million in lost crop revenue. On the other hand, the Corps has restricted the river flow so much that barge traffic is only allowed to run a few months a year, typically April through November, as long as drought doesn’t further affect water levels.
I look forward to continuing the work of balancing our major waterways with new developments and existing locales. While the 31st District is home to many outdoor opportunities, our proximity to Missouri’s largest water thoroughfare should not be dismissed.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.
Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.
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