The Wide Missouri and The ‘Big Muddy’
It’s the rivers that created “Big Govmnt” and, “oft the truth is said in jest.”
In the 1800’s, most of the lands of 32 states which drain into the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers were undeveloped. At the time, the many states and territories functioned almost as independent countries. There was little federal authority.
Then came the hi-tech era of the early 1900’s; cars, tractors, reapers, cotton gins – all requiring plowed fields or rights-of-way. Lands were deforested, leveled, and cultivated. As farms were developed soil erosion became common and simply floated down the river- not unlike our problem today with empty plastic bottles floating into multiple sovereignties.
The rivers have always been muddy. But then came the sand bars and blockages of the river caused by the cultivation which was occurring in those 32 states. Was Farmer John the main culprit in Arkansas or was it more upstream from Annie Oakley in Montana? And should the State of Missouri be responsible or is Nebraska the culprit, or Wyoming or Wisconsin?
And the next question became, “should one state declare war on another state and possibly invade”? There was little or no federal authority at the time. Then, in 1930, the Dust Bowl ushered in another dimension of soil erosion. Soils from Oklahoma and surrounding states were whipped up by the winds and clouds of soils created a darkened sky over Washington DC, enroute to a final destination 300 miles into the Atlantic Ocean (It’s not easy to get the attention of WDC).
But the rivers were deemed to be of vital security to the nation; and FDR signed the “Soils Conservation Act of 1935.” By necessity, it was a big jump from local solutions of problems to national solutions. All 32 states prospered via the uniform rulebook for soil management. All 32 states can now deliver crops and manufactured goods to cities along the river all the way to New Orleans, one of the largest ports in the US.
Today, the little-known Soils Conservation Act is alive and well and now part of the Natural Resources Conservation Services. It has provided valuable service throughout our nation for over 75 years. When I purchased a remote desert property years ago, I was able to go to a local office and obtain a map with designations of the type and quality of soil, a task needed for any future development or use. Most undeveloped properties are not marketable without a soils report. The Act has increased the marketability of properties throughout the nation.
So today, the biblical rainfall in the upper midwest might yield a blessing in disguise. Over the years, many reservoirs and flood control projects have been created. It appears that one of the solutions is to expand various reservoirs to contain the floods and are often used for recreation. Individuals can’t solve the problem; but they can benefit from the results of government action.
Rich Meyer – Blogger, Author
