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 , Montague and Elmira. These and other improvements could not so soon have been supplied if a Union with Canada had not been consummated.