Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/519

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
*
471
*

MIDDLETOWN. 467 MIDHAT PASHA. Hartford ; on the Connecticut River, and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (Map: Connecticut, E 3). It is connected with the opposite town of Portland, known for its brownstoue quarries, by an unusually long drawbridge, iliddletown is the seat of W'csleyan University (q.v. ) ; the Berkeley Divinity School (Protestant Episcopal), opened in 1854; the State Hospital for the Insane; and the State Industrial School for Girls. Other features are the municipal building, and the Russell Free Li- brary of about 14,000 volumes. The city has considerable trade, as the river is navigable as far as Hartford for light-draught steamers, thus increasing the transportation facilities, ilidille- town is also an important industrial centre, with manufactures of cotton webbing, hammocks, pumps, marine hardware, locks, harness trim- mings, silver-plated ware, and rubber, bone, and silk goods. There are valuable mineral deposits in the vicinity'. Jliddletown is governed, under a charter of 1882, by a mayor, elected biennial- ly, and a city council, chosen on a general ticket. The water-works are owned and operated by the municipality. Population, in 1890, 0013; in 1000, 9589. Founded in 1050, and incorporated as a town under the name JIattabeseck in 1651, Middle- town received its present name in 1053, and was incorporated as a city in 1784. Previous to the Revolution and for some time thereafter it was a very important commercial port, a large num- ber of its citizens being engaged in the West Indian trade. For many years prior to 1886, when the Custom House was moved to Hartford, it was a port of entry. Consult an article on '"Middletown" in The Connecticut Quarterly (Hartford, 1808) ; also Whittemore, Tlistory of Middlesex County, Connecticut (New York, 1884). MIDDLETOWN. A town in Newcastle County, Del., 25 miles south-southwest of Wil- mington ; on the Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad (ilap: Delaware, P 3), It has considerable fruit-canning interests, owing to its location in the noted fruit-growing belt of the .State, and manufactures farming implements, carriages, etc. Population, in 1890, 1454; in 1900, 1567. MIDDLETOWN. A city in Orange County, N. v.. 67 miles northwest of New York City, near the Wallkill River, and on the Erie, the New Y'ork, Ontario and Western, and the New York, Susquehanna and Western railroads (Map: New York, F 4). It is the seat of a State Hospital for the Insane (homaiopathic) , and has a public library and a fine high schofil building. The centre of an agricultural and dairying district, Middletown enjoys a consider- abl(^ trade in the products of the region; and among its industrial establishments are woolen and straw hat factories, ear shops (N. Y., O. and W.) saw and file works, cigar factories, a tannerjf, a milk-condensery, and manufactories of shirts and cut glass. The city is governed, under a revised charter of 1902. by a mayor, elected every two years, and a common council which elects the city clerk, corporation counsel, and engineer, and confirms the executive's nomi- nations to the board of health, other municipal olTicials being chosen by popiilar vote. The city owns and operates the water-works. Population, in 1890, 11,977; in 1900. 14,522, Settled before the Revolution and named from its central loca- tion between Jlontgomery nnd -Mount Hope, Mid- dletown was incorporated as a village in 1848, and was chartered as a city in 1888. Its situa- tion as the half-way station between the Hudson and the Delaware rivers, on the old Minisink road leading to the 'far West' of New York State, made it of considerable importance in the later years of the eighteenth and the early years of the nineteenth century; while its position as a termi- nal of the Erie Railroad, and the consequent es- tablishment of a foundry abotit 1845, gave it a start as an industrial centre. MIDDLETOWN. A city in Butler County, Ohio. 35 miles north of Cincinnati; on the Miami River, and the iliami and Erie Canal, and on the Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chicago and Saint Louis, the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton, and the Cincinnati Northern railroads (Map: Ohio, B 7). It has a Masonic Temple and a fine opera house; and there are extensive manufac- tures of tobacco, paper, bic.vcles. ajid agricultural implements. Middletown. settled as early as 1794, is governed by a ma.vor. elected biennially, and a unicameral council which controls im- portant elective and confirming powers. The water-works are owned and operated by the mu- nicipality. Population, in 1890, 7681;" in 1900, 9215. MIDDLETOWN. A borough in Dauphin Count}', Pa,, 9 miles southeast of Harrisburg; on the Susquehanna River, and on the Pennsyl- vania and the Philadelphia and Reading rail- roads (Map: Pennsylvania. E 3). It is in a farming section, and has flouring and planing mills, iron furnaces, stove works, tube and iron works, ear shops, a furniture faetor.v. tannery, and stone quarries, the principal products of which constitute a considerable export trade. The electric light plant is owned by the munici- palit.v, Middletown was founded in 1756 and was incorporated as a borough in 1828. Popula- tion, in 1890, 5080; in 1900. 5608. MIDGE (AS. mycg, OHG. mucea. Ger, Miicke, Icel, my, midge, fly; connected with Gk. /ivTa, myia. fly). The popular name of the little flies of the family Chironomidfe, applied also in Eu- rope to the Simuliida>. which in this country are called 'black flies' and 'buft'alo gnats.' There' is nothing very specific in the use of the name, and it is generally applied to almost any minute flying insect, most of which are true flies. MIDHAT PASHA, me'd'hat' pa-shil' (1822- 84). A Turkish statesman, born proiialily in Bulgaria. His origin was humble, but his marked ability secured him rapid prouiotinn in the Ottoman civil service. He visited England and France; was made a pasha; governed with energy and wisdom Bulgaria and other provinces ; and in 1872 was named CJrand Vizier. He had alread.v identified himself with the progressive part.v known as Y'oung Turkey, and was disliked and feared by the reactionaries. He took a lead- ing part in the conspiracv which led to the de- thronement of Abdul-Aziz CMay .'^O, 1876), and was made Grand Vizier December 20. 1876. by -Mid-ul-Hamid II.. but was disnii-;scd in Febru- ary. 1877, and had to flee, A constitition which he had promulgated failed. Later, he was per- mitted to return, and became Governor of S.vria and then of Sm.yrna, In ISSl he was tried, with