The Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad is one of the most important lines now being operated in Iowa.  It connects us directly with the pineries of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the coal fields of Iowa, and with Duluth and Chicago.

The McGregor and Missouri River Railroad, now completed to Algona, is being rapidly extended westward to Dakota Territory, and is expected to run entirely across the county from east to west.  By this road the great advantages of the Milwaukee wheat market, and a direct connection with the East, will be secured to our people.

The Iowa and Dakota Railroad, also, will probably pass through a portion of the county in a westerly direction.  A tax to aid in its construction has been voted in Lyon and other counties, and we are informed that its building will be commenced early in the coming season.  This road will connect us directly with the Iowa coal mines, and will be of the greatest benefit to Northwestern Iowa.

The Sioux City and Pembina Railroad has its southern terminus at Sioux City.  It follows up the valley of the Big Sioux along our western border, crosses the great continental water shed to the Red River of the North, and connects with the Northern Pacific Railroad at Brainard.  The building of this road has been commenced, and when completed it will open up one of the finest valleys in the West, and secure us the advantages of the now important markets of the western mining regions.

The projected Rock River Railway will follow up the valley of the Rock through Lyon and Sioux Counties, Iowa, and Rock County, Minnesota.  The route for this road is one of the most feasible ever proposed, and its construction as certain as the development of this extensive valley.

These roads are not imaginary; one has been completed, two are under construction, and the others are questions of time only.

Important as is production, the progress of an inland country will be measured by its railroad facilities.

The railroad is the power that is transforming the wilds of the great West into the most productive portion of the earth, and is revolutionizing the commerce of the world.  The intelligent pioneer now asks of a locality, "How far is it from the railroad?" with even more interest than "What is its soil?"  We invite attention to our railway prospects.