HISTORY OF NOVA SCOTIA. 
in measures of reform, For the most part, men, not 
measures, formed the bond by which the two great 
parties were held together. 
With the exception. of an interval of three 
years, from 1857 to 1860, when the Tories held the 
reins of power, the Liberals ruled the country for a 
period. of fifteen years. There were good men on 
both sides. Each party formed a check on the other 
to prevent abuses ; and each stimulated the other to 
greater activity in doing good. Just as we might 
expect, therefore, wise measures were adopted of the 
highest importance to the welfare of the country. 
The two great things to be spoken of in this chapter 
are the introduction of railways, and the founding of 
free schools, 
Railways, 1854, A.D.— The subject of build- 
ing railways was talked of some time before anything 
was done. Mr. Johnstone and his party thought the 
work should be done by companies. Finally, the 
Assembly resolved that the Government should build 
lines from Halifax to Windsor and to Pictou. Mr. 
Howe was appointed Chairman of the Railway Board, 
and the work was pushed on rapidly. A few miles 
of the road were opened in February 185 5 
In the year 1852 Sir John Harvey, the good 
old soldier governor, who was always trying to make 
peace by kind words, died at Halifax. Our next 
governor was Sir Gaspard Le Marchant. 
In the year 1854 an Industrial Exhibition was 
held at Halifax. In the autumn of the following year 
she Normal School was opened at Truro. 
Nova Scotian Hernc:. About this time a 
zreat war was raging „u Arne, -Great Britain, 
"rance, Turkey. 22? 741 >= 44 one side j and