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     the Island, if those monstrosities were: permitted to roam at large. The 
     
     press took up the cudgels against them, and soon the automobile question 
     
     became a political issue upon which the legislature was finally compelled 
     
     to act. As/ result, autos were excluded from all country roads, and from 
     
     the city streets on market days. They were allowed to run on non-market 
     
    
   
   
    
     days, but were taxed in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars per year for the 
     
    
   
   
    
     . e 
     
    
   
   
    
     privilege. 
     
    

    
     In 1908, because of increased pressure from the farmers, autos were 
     
     excluded "from any public street cr highway," under a penalty of Five 
     
     Hundred Dollars fine and/or six months in jail. Some daring spirits took 
     
     chances and ran into more grief than they had bargained for. They were 
     
     physically beaten; their machines were stoned; their tires were slashed; 
     
     on several occasions, they were actually fired upon. 
     
    

    
     In 1913, the legislature modified the restrictions to the extent of 
     
     permitting cars to be operated on certain country roads during three days 
     
     of each week. Actually, the modification did more harm than good, since 
     
     each district was required to sunction the legislation before it could taku 
     
     effect. Many districts refused to co-operate, with the result that motorist: 
     
     were restricted in certain areas, while free to operate in others. Those 
     
     motorists who took chances and crossed into forbidden territory Paid heavil]. 
     
     for their rashness in fines, beatings, and car damage. 
     
    

    
     With the outbreak of war in August, 1914, the whole situation took a new 
     
     turn. Autos were allowed to run all over the province on recruiting and 
     
     other missions associated with the military. People gradually became 
     
     accustomed to them -~ sufficiently so that in 1918, the legislature passed 
     
     an act that permitted auto travel in all sections of the province, at all 
     
     times. 
     
    

    
     Unrestricted automobile travel played a great role in the: improvement 
     
    
   
   
    
     of Island highways, practically none of which was hard-surfaced. The