Beloit is situated in the extreme southwest corner of the county, on a smooth plain which rises gradually from the east bank of the Sioux river.  The town has a charming location on the south, the river bends abruptly to the east, and the high bluffs on either side loom up in a thousand weird and fantastic forms; to the north and west the view takes in beautiful groves of maple and elm, the wide valley of the Sioux and the rolling prairies of Dakota.

In natural resources, advantages of location, present improvements and future prospects, Beloit surpasses any town in the extensive and fertile valley of the Sioux.  It is the commercial and manufacturing center of a large and productive region, and now does a flourishing business.

The town is connected by daily and tri-weekly mail and stage lines with Doon, Sheldon, Lemars, and Sioux City, Iowa, and Yankton, Vermillion, Canton and Sioux Falls, Dakota.  The Sioux City and Pembina and Iowa and Dakota railroads are both expected to strike Beloit.  The former is now under construction and the company has secured grounds near the town plat for a depot.  There are also excellent water privileges near by which are beginning to be improved.

Beloit

now contains one flouring mill, a fine structure, 34x44, four stories high, with a grinding capacity of forty bushels per hour.  It has also a grain elevator, saw mills, several real estate offices, stores, shops, an hotel, public hall, fine school building and some twenty residences.

The following are the leading business firms:

J.A. Carpenter & Sons, proprietors of the Beloit saw and flouring mills, and dealers in lands and town property.

Goetz & Thorson, real estate and tax paying agents and examiners of titles.

Keep & Carpenter, dealers in general merchandise.

H.T. Helgerson, dealer in agricultural implements, lands and town property, and proprietor of the Lyon county nursery.

M. Nelson, dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware.

K. Gesley, saddlery and harness making.

The Lyon county nurseries contain 20,000 apple trees hardy varieties selected especially for this climate; 5,000 evergreen and ornamental trees, over  200,000 silver maple, larch and other varieties, adapted to forest culture; also a full stock of small fruits.

The farm of J.A. Carpenter & Sons, near town, is worthy of mention as showing how farming may be carried on in the west.  It contains over 5,000 acres, 1,600 of which are now under cultivation, and 2,000 acres more will be put under the plow the coming season.

Over 40,000 acres of farming lands surrounding Beloit are for sale to settlers upon easy terms.  Town property is held at merely nominal prices, and every inducement is offered by one of the most promising towns in the Northwest.

Information concerning Beloit and surrounding country will be cheerfully given by addressing any of its business firms.

Doon

is situated upon a smooth plateau on the east bank of the Rock, at the confluence of the West Branch, Rock and Little Rock rivers.  It commands a view of the valleys of these streams, whose sweeping bends, shady groves, and sparkling waters, present a beautiful landscape as far as the eye can reach.  Here fancy would again restore to us some eastern village, surrounded by orchards, meadows and farms, were it not for that enterprise so characteristic of rising towns in the West.

Its geographical situation is very nearly at the middle of the county east and west, and one mile and a half from its southern boundary.  It is located on the line of the Rock Valley Railway, and will also be the crossing of the Iowa and Dakota Railroad.

Doon has been amply provided by nature with the foundation for a substantial and flourishing town.

The country drained by the several streams that unite at this place is tributary to Doon.  Two of the finest water powers on Rock River are conveniently located.  The water has cut out an almost perfect mill race, the banks of the stream are solid, and the power can be utilized at little expense.  Timber and stone are also plenty and convenient.

With the improvement of these advantages for manufacture, the development of the surrounding country, and completion of railroads, Doon will rank as one our finest western towns.  For the purpose of encouraging these objects some of our leading business men have organized "The Lyon County Town Lot and Real Estate Company."  The objects of this Company are to deal in real estate, and in particular to invite immigration, encourage manufacturers, and promote the growth of Doon.

The town has already made rapid progress.  Tri-weekly mail stages connect it with Sheldon and Sibley, on the St. Paul railroad, and with Rock Rapids, Beloit and Lemars.  A lively newspaper, Republican in politics, is also published at Doon.  The first paper ever printed in Lyon county was issued from this office, Sept. 20th, 1872.  It also contains a good hotel, several real estate offices and stores, a public hall and an elegant school building.  Other buildings are going up and steps are being taken to erect a church.  The Rock river is being spanned near town with an iron bridge.  At present a flouring mill is urgently needed; other manufactures must follow.  More than 50,000 acres of our best farming lands are held for sale at Doon.  The home-seeker and the capitalist are urged to investigate the inducements which are here offered, either by visit or correspondence with any of the following firms:

The Lyon County Town Lot and Real Estate Company, A.J. Warren, President; H.D. Rice, Vice President; James H. Wagner, Treasurer; Charles E. Goetz, Secretary.

M.W. Jeffries, dealer in general merchandise and agricultural implements.

The Lyon County Press, L.B. Raymond & Co., editors and proprietors.

James H. Wagner, real estate, tax paying and collection Agent.

G.R. Badgerow, real estate and tax paying agent.

Geo. W. McQueen, dealer in real estate.

S.C. Hyde, real estate agent and surveyor.

Rock Rapids

Among the many Northwestern towns that have sprung into existence within the last two years, none have shown more life and vigor than Rock Rapids, and none now offer superior inducements to capitalists or immigrants.

Located upon a beautiful table land at the junction of the Rock and Kanaranzi rivers, abounding in foliage from stately trees to tiny flowers, and within the sound of water falls it is, indeed a lovely town.

Geographically it is situated very near the middle of the county east and west, and five miles from its northern boundary.  It is also located on the line of the Rock Valley Railway, and will be the crossing of the Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls Division of the McGregor and Missouri River Railroad.  Tri-weekly mail and stage lines also connect the town with Sibley, on the St. Paul Railway, with Doon, LeMars and Larchwood, Iowa, Luvern, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, Dakota.

An extensive region of country, embracing the northern part of Lyon County and a large district in Minnesota, is its natural tributary.  But a surer foundation for the future greatness and permanence of Rock Rapids, stronger than all local advantages, are its exhaustless manufacturing facilities.  Three first-class water powers are situated within one mile of the town.  Their power is ample for milling and manufacturing purposes.  The banks of the stream and building sites are safe and substantial.  An abundance of rock for the construction of dams lies loose in the bed of the stream where it is needed for use.

Rock Rapids contains a good hotel, several real estate offices, stores, shops, a newspaper, public hall and a fine school building.  A church has been organized, and steps are being taken to erect a house of worship.  Other buildings are also under construction, and an iron bridge is now being stretched across the Rock River opposite the town.

Many of the buildings are fine structures.  The residence of C.H. Moon, the finest in the country, does credit to so young a town.  A visit to the garden of J.S. Smith, filled with plants, flowers and shrubbery of all kinds, would show what may be accomplished in horticulture on our western soil.  The grounds surrounding the residence of J.S. Howell, near town, would do credit to one of our eastern cities.  They are regularly and tastefully laid out, with walks, drives, orchards and groves, the latter containing over 20,000 trees of many rare varieties.

A large nursery is being planted near town, which will be able to supply the whole valley with all kinds of fruit and forest trees.

The different real estate firms of Rock Rapids are agent for the sale of more than 50,000 acres of adjoining farming lands, for all of which settlers are earnestly desired.  A flouring mill is also urgently demanded and would richly repay the investment.  With the development of the surrounding country other manufactures must spring up and Rock Rapids take an importance far beyond what is most hopeful citizens ever anticipated.

We invite an examination of the town and surrounding country or correspondence with any of the following named parties:

The Rock Rapids Water Power Improvement, Milling and Manufacturing Company; J.S. Howell, president; C.H. Moon, vice-president; O.A. Cheney, secretary; D.C. Whitehead, superintendent; T.K. Bradley, treasurer; J.F. Eccleston, attorney.

Van Sickle Brothers, dealers in general merchandise and agricultural implements.

T.K. Bradley, dealer in general merchandise.

D.C. Whitehead, attorney at law and real estate agent.

J.S. Howell, real estate broker and notary public.

Mount Brothers, real estate, title and insurance agents.

Smith & Monlux, dealers in agricultural implements.

The Rock Rapids Review, O.A. Cheney, editor and proprietor.

J.F. Eccleston, attorney at law.

Ethan Allen, real estate agent and surveyor.

Rock Rapids Hotel, T.E. Convers, proprietor.

Rock River Nurseries, D.E. Sweet, proprietor.

Larchwood

is situated in the northwestern part of the county, surrounded by some of our best farming lands.  The place has a handsome location, on the Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls stage line, and expects to receive the McGregor railroad.  It  is now the central point for a colony from Illinois, which is changing this portion of the county from a wilderness to a fine farming district.  One of the principal advantages offered at Larchwood is improved farms with artificial timber for settlers.  The surrounding vacant lands are owned by J.W. Fell, of Bloomington, Ill., who is taking every pains to prepare them for settlement.  Ten acres are broken on each quarter section and planted to timber-principally European larch.  The new comer may thus find lands ready for cultivation the first year and a grove of timber growing.  These lands are among the best in the county and the colony is prosperous.  For further information address J.W. Fell, Bloomington, Ill., or J.F. Geiser, real estate agent, Larchwood, Lyon county, Iowa.  The county seat of Lyon has not yet been established, but the legal steps are now being taken for its location.