Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-05-04
Instructions to Census Takers.

Your first duty, after receiving
your commissions, is to subscribe
to the oath thereto attached be-
fore the clerks of your respective
districts or some officer authorized
to administer oaths and TO verify
the same by the seal of his Office.
2nd. Before starting out on your
mission, you are required to give
notice, at least one week prior to
commencing the census, of the
time you will be at certain pre-
cincts to take the census. You
will therefore give notice of such
intention through the papers, or by
posting written or printed notices
when you will be at the precinct
notified.
3rd. AT each precinct you will
remain three days or so many
thereof as may be necessary. When
you have finished at one, you will
proceed, without delay, to the
next, and so continue until you
have finished the duties assigned
you.
4th. 1t is your duty to make
full, complete and correct returns
OF all citizens found residing with
in the limits of your respective
districts, giving name, age, sex
and nationality. To do this, as
required by law, separate blank
census rolls will be furnished you
one for Cherokees by blood, one
for Delawares, one for Shawnees,
one for whites, one for freedmen
and one for the Creeks. None but
citizens of the nation are to be
taken.
9Th. In writing down the names
of families and of adult single per-
sons be careful to do so in a plain,
legible hand and with pen and ink,
observing to keep separate by
blank lines those not of the same
family. You will likewise observe
this rule in writing down the
names of all single adults. Ditto
should not be used in recording
name and sex of any one. They
should be written.
9th. Before proceeding to write
down the names of heads of fami-
lies, you are required to qualify
each one as 10 the correctness of
the statement he or she shall make
with reference to the number,
name, age and sex of each minor
member thereof, and likewise to
ascertain by the proof or evidence
of not less than two responsible
witnesses, the truth of such state
ment as to the number, name and
sex Of the family enrolled or to be
enrolled.
1t is expected that persons of
lawful age will see after their own
enrolment.
7th. When enrolling any class
OF citizens, be particularly careful
to number in regular order as they
present themselves for registra-
tion, beginning with No. /, and on
indefinitely, the names of all adults
and minors, and when the father
or mother is of a different class Of
citizens to the one you may be en-
rolling, place such father or mother
on his or her proper roll, giving
him or her the corresponding num-
Der under head of remarks, with
that of his or her family. You
will readily perceive that this is
necessary to the Identification of
the father or mother with his or
her Cherokee family. To make
this precaution doubly sure you
will record the name of such fat.!
or mother, under head of remarks,
opposite their respective families.
Sth. The census takers of Sa-
line District are especially in
structed to enroll the orphans at
the Orphan Asylum on a roll to
themselves.
You will bear in mind that your
duties are important, and that you
are responsible to the people for
the manner in which you shall dis
charge them.
April 2lst, 1898.
G. J. HARRIS,
Principal Chief.