WSP04630

• File Number: 8407.500
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications - Missouri River
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 12/1/1971
• Author: Missouri Basin Inter
• Title: Missouri River Basin Comprehensive Framework Study - Volume IV - Economic Analysis and Projections - Appendix
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

coal resource development, if not the magnitude. First,
it does not seem reasonable to anticipate any large
synthetic fuels output in the Nation before 1980.
Second, if a synthetic fuels industry of substantial
capacity does develop after 1980, the northern regions
of the Nation and the Missouri Region in particular
would be in a favored position because of the vast coal
reserves, in contrast to limited petroleum reserves and
the remoteness of Atlantic and Gulf Coast low-cost oil
imports. And third, the future of synthetic fuels, as well
as conventional carbonaceous fuels, more and more will
depend upon their environmental acceptability in a
society wherein the pressure of population growth now
seems destined to require an even greater rate of growth
in total energy output.
In summary, coal output in the region seems assured
of a firm market in meeting electric utility needs
through the end of the century, including some further
growth in such requirements continuing into the 1970's.
Other important increases in coal output for currently
conventional markets are not foreseen after 1980. New
markets for coal, in synthetic fuels production and in
chemical industry uses, offer the greatest potential for
developing the region's coal resources. Such markets, if
they do materialize, could be expected to exert strong
demands upon the region's land and water resources, as
well as its coal, probably by 1980 or soon thereafter.

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES

The purpose of this section is to present a current
picture of transportation, communication, and electric
power facilities and services in the Missouri Region.
These elements serve industry, as well as social and
economic demands of the people residing in the region.
Although the transportation facilities and services are a
portion of the greater national network, they facilitate
the shipment of raw materials and finished goods and
the transportation of people within the region. Modern
communication systems enable rapid to instantaneous
exchanges of information vital to the conduct of
business and in response to the cultural and social needs
of the general populace. The generation, transmission,
and distribution of electric power within the region and
interconnections with other areas have rapidly improved
within recent years to the point where industrial and
household needs are being served as adequately as any
area in the Nation. These three industries are basic in a
sense that they provide services vital to the growth of
the region's economy. Employment within these indus-
tries is included within the broad classification of
noncommodity-producing or service industries. Seg-
ments within\ each of these three industries are unique
from the standpoint that their pricing is subject to
governmental regulation. There will be no attempt in the
following discussion to isolate future growth of these

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industries since it will follow to a degree the expansion
of the economy in general.

Air Service

Air transportation in the region, although less exten-
sive than in other more densely populated areas of the
United States, is growing rapidly with the development
of air service td the smaller urban areas of the region.
This expansion and development is taking place within
the so-called feeder airlines, which link minor urban
markets to each other and to major markets. The
region's major cities within the air transportation net-
work are Kansas City, Denver, Lincoln, and Omaha in
the South; and Billings, Great Falls, Sioux Falls, and
Bismarck in the North. These cities are all served by
major airlines and by regional feeder lines, and intra-
regional service and nonstop services to the Nation's
metropolitan areas are provided. Figure 12 shows the
scheduled airline routes within the region in the late
1960's.
Two major problems facing air transportation in the
region are: (a) inclement weather during the winter
months, which is cause for bypasses of some stops, and
(b) limited airport facilities, especially in many of the
smaller communities. Generally speaking, air service in
the region is growing, and indications are that it will
continue to grow.

Railroads

The system of railroad routes in the region developed
during the railroad building period of the mid and late
19th century. As such, there is an east-west general
orientation of the railroad system. While north-south
routes exist and are adequate, the flow of traffic is
primarily east-west. Figure 13 shows the major railroad
systems within the basin.
The railroad industry within the region is of partic-
ular interest. This industry is in the process of under-
going a transition from its historic role as the major, and
in some cases, sole carrier of goods and services. Today,
railroads are faced with intense competition from all
types of carriers within the transportation industry.
From the airlines and commercial motor carriers, the
railroads are facing competition for the carriage of
people. Based upon trends in the volume of passenger
traffic, it appears that railroads may be eliminated from
the passenger traffic business. This may be both an
economic inevitability and a choice on the part of the
railroads.
Railroads are also facing increasing competition from
bargelines and pipelines. This competition is for the
transporta tion of commodities, primarily low-valued
bulk commodities. However, competition between