Mo. Rev. Stat. § 392.120: Power to own and maintain lines.

Any company incorporated as herein provided may contract, own, use and maintain any line or lines of telephone or magnetic telegraph, whether wholly within or wholly or partly beyond the limits of this state, and shall have power to lease or attach to the line or lines of such company other telephone or telegraph lines, by lease or purchase, and may join with any other corporation or association in constructing, leasing, owning, using or maintaining their line or lines, upon such terms as may be agreed upon between the directors or managers of the respective corporations, and may own and hold any interest in such line or lines, or become lessees thereof, on such terms as the respective corporations may agree.