Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1888-07-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Continuing the subject of last weeks
letter, will give few points respect
ing women's rights under several stat
utes, beginning with the presumption
law:
A widow or maid over 81 years Of age
is entitled to land upon compliance witt
the statutory requirements respecting
prescriptions. Full citizenship is not .
requirement, declaration Of intention be.
ing all that is necessary in that respect
Any woman who is the head of fam.
I lily, though less than 81 years old, il
otherwise qualified, may secure land un.
der these laws.
A married woman is not entitled tc
the right of presumption. A single
woman who nnarries after filing her de.
claratory statement and before making
proof and payment, forfeits all rights as
a pre-emptor and cannot acquire title te
though she and her husband continue to
reside thereon.
In the event Of the death of a pre-.
emptor before making proof and pay.
ment, the title may be perfected by Of
for the benefit Of the heirs. Ordinarily
widows are not heirs, and cannot make
final proof and payment for their owr
benefit. In some states widows are by
statutes made heirs of their. husbands,
and where such is the case, should there
be no other heirs, the widow may perfect
and enjoy the benefit of title to the land
Should there be several heirs, the widow
as one Of them, may perfect title for the
benefit of all. Where the state law al
lows the widow only dover right-o
life estate-in the property Of her de-
ceased husband, she cannot acquire title
to his presumption claim, but may as
guardian make proof and payment fol
the benefit of minor heirs.
Under the timber culture laws, any
unmarried woman over the age of'twenty
one, or any single woman who is the
head of a family, under that age, may
enter and perfect title to land.
No residence is required on timber
culture entries, and marriage after in
itiating entry will not affect the rights
of woman to perfect title. The acts of
cultivation, planting, ETC., required by
statute may be done by an agent as well
as by the entry woman in person.
The desert land law authorizes any
woman, whether married or single, who
is citizen of the United States, or OF
requisite age who may be entitled to and
has fled her declaration of intention to
become such citizen, to initiate entry and
acquire title to land upon compliance
with its requirements. She may employ
an agent to perform the acts necessary
to reclaim the land as well as to perform
the same herself. The wife's right to
take land under this law is not abridged
or interfered with by reason Of her hus-
band having exercised the privileges ex-
tended by the law.
The stone and timber land law, appli-
cable to the states of California, Oregon
and Nevada, and Washington territory,
extends the privilege Of entry to the OK
tent of 100 acres to every citizen of the
United States or person who has filed a
declaration of intention to become a citi-
zen, regardless Of sex:
Married and single women stand upon
an equal footing with men under this
law.
Rights may be abridged only by the
voluntary acts Of the person. The law
allows but 100 acres to be taken by enc
person or association of persons. OF
course anyone who is member of an
association making entry under this act
valves his or her indiyidual entry right.
1t is held that married woman in
California cannot mako an entry under
this oct with community (fanily) money
il her husband has exercised his privil-
ege Of entry under the act. Under such
circumstances the husband and wife are
considered as an ssaasociation Of PERSONS 2
and entitled to but one entry.
The mineral land laws extend to
women all the RIGHTS and privileges that