74 OUR ISLAND STORY

Although the subsidy paid by Canada has been enlarged, from time to time, direct taxation to meet local requirements has been repeatedly increased. But, as a result of exceptional negotia- tions, entered into before the people of Prince Edward Island consented to the Union with Canada, its Government. was en— abled to purchase the estates of its proprietors and to afford op- portunity to all tenants to purchase a freehold interest in their farms. In addition to this highly beneficial acquisition, the people of the Province have been provided with means of prac- . tically constant communication between the Island and the rail- way system of the neighboring continent in winter and in sum- mer. Moreover it has since the Union obtained, together with a splendid bridge over the Hillsborough River, the extension of railway service to Murray Harbor, Montague and Elmira. These and other improvements could not so soon have been supplied if a Union with Canada had not been'consummated.

.“wamwmm ‘_ .. ' W WN‘

w “ " _ ~' ‘ - not». » anew-es ‘ . . .— . 1. .m~wwwaw.~._ . . . . . “WW3"