Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/668

NILE. 568 NILGAI. w (jb., 1899) ; Willcocks, The Kile Reservoir Dam at Assuan and After (ib., 1901). NILE GROUP. A large marble group, one of the most important Alexandrine works of art, representing the river god reclining and leaning on a Sphinx. About and over his body sixteen children are climbing and playing, emblematic of the sixteen cubits to which the Xile rises be- fore overflowing the surrounding country. The god holds in his left hand a cornucopia with Bowers and fruits, in his right a bunch of grain, types of the fructifying power of the inunda- tion." The group was found near the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Home, in the time of Leo X., and is now in the Vatican. NILES, nilz. A city in Berrien County, Mich.. 92 miles east of Chicago, 111.; on the Saint .Joseph River, and on the Cleveland. Cin- cinnati, Cliicago and Saint Louis and the ilichi- gan Central railroads (Map: Michigan, G 7). It derives excellent power from the river and has extensive manufactures of all grades of pa- per, furniture, windmills, steel tanks, Hour, etc. There is also a large fan and lithographing es- tablishment. The surrounding counlrj- is chiefly agricultural, and the river scenery is unusually fine. The government, as provided by general charter of 1896. is vested in a maj'or, annually elected, and a unicameral council. The water- works and electric light plant are owned and operated by the nuinicipality. Population, in 1890. 4197: in 1900. 42S7. On or near the site of Niles stood Kort Saint Joseph, the capture of which by the Spaniards in 1781 was the basis of Spain's claim (in 1782-83) to a large tract of Western territory. The foimdations of the old fort are still visible. Early records show that a French mission was here established as early as lti97. and a complete census of a settlement in 1707 is extant. Xiles was settled permanently in 1828, ten years later was incorporated as a village, and in 18.i9 it received a city char- ter. NILES. A city in TrmnbuU Couijty. Ohio, 58 miles southeast of Cleveland; on the Mahon- ing Itiver, and on the Erie, the Pennsylvania, and the Baltimore and Ohio railroads (Map: Ohio, J 3). It is primarily a manufacturing centre, these interests being represented by tin mills, automatic press works, sheet mills, boiler works, and manufactories of electric and steam ears, incamlescent lamps, chinaware. iron roof- ing, metal lath, ollice supplies, foundry and blast furnace products, mine and mill sui)]dies. and galvanizc<l iron. Niles. tirst incorporated in 1804, is governed, under a charter of 189.5. by a mayor, elected every two years, and a unicam- eral coimcil. The city owns and operates the water-works and electric light plant. Popula- lloM. in 1S!'0. 4289; in 1900, 7408, NILES, llEZEKi.Mi (1777-1839). An Ameri- can journalist and publisher. He wa.s born in East Bradford, Chester County, Pa., where he was educated in the village schools. He learned the printers' trade, and in 1800 established him- self in the printing and publishing business in Wilmington. Del. Failing in business, he re- moved to Baltimore. Md.. where he became asso- ciated with rjcorpc Bourne in the editing of Thr F.rcniyift Pout. In 1811 he began the publi- cation of a weekly, largely devoted to politics and the discussion of public affairs, which he called yiles's Register. This journal he contin- ued until his death, removing the publication ollice in 1837 to Washington and renaming the 2)aper Xiles's yatiimal Register. In 1S38 the oflice was moved back to Baltimore, and there the publication of the paper was continued after Xiles's death until 1849 by his son, W. O. Miles, and others. The files of the paiwr from 1811 to 1849 constitute an invaluable source for the study of American political history- during that period, NILES, .Joiix Milton (1787-1856). An Anurican journalist, politician, and Cabinet offi- cer. He was born in Windsor, Conn,, received a common school education, and studied law by himself. In 1817 he .settled at Hartford. Conn,, and established the Times, which, under the edi- torial control of Xiles, whose connection with it lasted for thirty years, became one of the most influential newspapers in Xew England. It was one of the earliest papers in the section to give its support to Andrew .Jackson for the Presi- dency, and after his election Xiles received the appointment to the Hartford postniastership as a reward. In 1835 he was ai)pointed United States Senator to fill a vacancy, serving until 1839. In 1840 he was ap])ointed Postmaster- General in Van Buren's Cabinet, remaining in oflice until Harrison's inauguration. From 1843 to 1849 he was a nu-mber of the United States Senate. He published: The Independent ^Vhig (181C) ; <Ja::etteer of Contwctieut and Rhode Isl- and (1817); Life of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (1820); .1 History of the Reioluti^on in Mexico and South .-Imerica, with a View of Tej-afs (1829); and The Civil 0/}icrr (1840). NILES, Xathaxiel (1741-1828). An Ameri- can politician and theologian, born in South Kingston. R. I. He graduated at Princeton in 170(1, later studied medicine and law. taught school in Xew York City, then studied theology, and preached in various Congregational churches in Xew England. While living at X'orwich, Conn,, he invented a process by which bar iron could be made into wire by the use of water power, and also established a wool-card manu- factory. About the close of the Revolution he settled in Orange County, Vt., an<l founded West Fairlee. He was frequently a menfl)er of the Vermont legislature, and in 1784 was Speaker; was later a judge of the State Supreme Court ; was a Representative in Congress from 1791 to 1795: was six times a Presidential elector, and also helped, as a 'censor.' to revise the State Constitution. Shortly after the battle of Bunker Hill he coinpose.l a song. "The .merican Hero." which proved popular, and he later contributed essays to the Theologieal Magazine, and pub- lished a considerable number of books on theo- logieal and other subjects. NILGAI, nil -gi' ( Pers,. Hind, nilgaii, nilgar, liliinr. lilne ox. from nil, Skt. nilii, blue -- gait, .Skt. f/i/i/.ox. cow). An East Indian antelope ( Bos- eliijdnis tragoeamelus) with a somewhat ox-like head and body, but with long, slender limbs, and of great activitv and fleetness. It is one of the largest of antelopes, and stands about 4i-l' feet high at the shoulder. The bonis of the male are about as long as (he ears, smooth, black, pointed, slightly curved forward. The female has no horns. The neck is deep and compressed, not rounded, as in most of the antelopes, The gen- eral color is brownish gray. A slight mane runs