View of tents on shore at the La Colle Falls construction project

Bio/historical note: The Ruins at La Colle Falls - At the turn of the 20th century, the City of Prince Albert undertook an ambitious project to generate hydroelectric energy on the North Saskatchewan River by erecting a large turbine dam. Due to some logistical and engineering problems, the project was abandoned in 1914 only five years after construction first began. The city of Prince Albert nearly went bankrupt trying to pay off the $3 million white elephant. It would take half a century to pay off the debt. Today, all that remains of the massive construction project is a concrete labyrinth on the banks of the river east of Prince Albert. Travel to the site is not advised as the road is not maintained. Those choosing to proceed to the site do so at their own risk, as per the Virtual Prince Albert tourist website: http://www.virtualprincealbert.com/lacolle.htm (accessed March 10, 2010). These particular photographs were taken by an unidentified Engineer working on the project and donated by Prince Albert City Hall to the Prince Albert Historical Society

View of the La Colle Falls construction project

Bio/historical note: The Ruins at La Colle Falls - At the turn of the 20th century, the City of Prince Albert undertook an ambitious project to generate hydroelectric energy on the North Saskatchewan River by erecting a large turbine dam. Due to some logistical and engineering problems, the project was abandoned in 1914 only five years after construction first began. The city of Prince Albert nearly went bankrupt trying to pay off the $3 million white elephant. It would take half a century to pay off the debt. Today, all that remains of the massive construction project is a concrete labyrinth on the banks of the river east of Prince Albert. Travel to the site is not advised as the road is not maintained. Those choosing to proceed to the site do so at their own risk, as per the Virtual Prince Albert tourist website: http://www.virtualprincealbert.com/lacolle.htm (accessed March 10, 2010). These particular photographs were taken by an unidentified Engineer working on the project and donated by Prince Albert City Hall to the Prince Albert Historical Society

Hudson's Bay Company steamboat on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Decks contain unidentified passengers and crew

Unidentified men hauling water from the North Saskatchewan River for an ice road

Riverboat George V on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. The boat belonged to the City. Passengers and crew can be seen on board

Fleet freighter on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

A view of a ferry apparently caught in ice on the North Saskatchewan River, Prince Albert

View of the ferry on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert being loaded

Ferry and dredge in the Prince Albert area, presumably crossing the North Saskatchewan River

Democrat climbing the hill up to River Street from the ferry crossing the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

Riverboat "City of Prince Albert" on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Unidentified passengers and crew can be seen on the deck

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge across the North Saskatchewan River with its "traffic wings" open to allow for the passing of an unidentified riverboat

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge over the North Saskatchewan at Prince Albert

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. High water level, riverboat approaching bridge