 The M&OJ had received a charter to build southeast from Ottawa to Coteau, QC on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River.The C&PL had received a charter to build a bridge across the St. Lawrence River to Valleyfield, QC and then across southwestern Quebec to Swanton, VT on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain.Due to financial difficulties, neither line had been completed and Booth worked through the early to mid 1880s on completing this route between Ottawa and Swanton.