▁the ▁Mid land ▁Railway ▁of ▁Canada , ▁ending ▁any ▁expansion ▁plans . ▁When ▁the ▁T & LE E ▁share hold ers ▁met ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁January ▁ 1 8 8 3 , ▁nothing ▁much ▁happened . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁March ▁ 1 8 8 4 , ▁the ▁two ▁re char tered ▁the ▁line ▁as ▁the ▁IB & O , ▁this ▁time ▁planning ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁Snow don ▁Branch ▁Railway ▁as ▁the ▁basis ▁for ▁a ▁new ▁line ▁running ▁from ▁Or ill ia ▁to ▁Ott awa , ▁a ▁distance ▁of ▁about ▁, ▁with ▁options ▁to ▁build ▁branches ▁n ortheast ▁to ▁S ault ▁Saint ▁Marie ▁and ▁west - s outh west ▁to ▁Bro ck ville . ▁This ▁saw ▁more ▁fav ou rable ▁response ▁from ▁the ▁share hold ers , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 3 ▁P use y ▁began ▁surve ying ▁the ▁route ▁as ▁far ▁as ▁B anc ro ft . ▁Notices ▁were ▁placed ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 8 8 4 ▁for ▁construction ▁contacts ▁for ▁this ▁ ▁section . ▁A ▁contract ▁was ▁signed ▁with ▁the ▁Hudson ▁Im prov ement ▁Company ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁February ▁ 1 8 8 6 . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 8 8 6 ▁the ▁IB & O ▁officially ▁purchased ▁the ▁My les ▁Branch ▁Tr am way ▁for ▁$ 5 0 0 ▁and ▁a ▁note ▁for ▁$ 2 2 , 0 0 0 ▁due ▁in ▁ 1 2 ▁months . ▁The ▁Bank ▁of ▁Com merce ▁mort g aged ▁the ▁property ▁to ▁the ▁IB