EXTENSIONS.
It was not that the work of the Society was not going forward as rapidly in the years 1905 to 1910 as it had done in preceding years, for the progress made in those four years was probably greater than ever before; but that the gradually increasing volume did not call for the same feverish exertion as formerly. In reality the work done during this period was probably the greatest in the history of the Federation until then, and the extensions were also probably the largest. St Mungo Halls were completed; Belfast Bakery was built and extended; while Clydebank Bakery was more than doubled in size. Then the new offices of the Society at the Adelphi Street corner of M‘Neil Street were also erected, making total additions to the value of the Society’s property of something like £40,000. There were other minor alterations and additions also, such as the covering in of Hayfield Street in order to convert it into a garage. Altogether the additions to the productive departments alone were such as allowed an additional turnover of over 1,000 sacks per week.
The new offices were not built before they were required. The old offices had sufficed indifferently well for the needs of the Society when they were built, but the continuous and rapid extension of the business soon made them altogether inadequate, and by the time the new offices were ready for occupation the old ones were absolutely crowded out.
The new offices were built to meet all emergencies, however, and during the eight years in which they have been occupied have proved quite adequate for the growing business needs of the Society and its ever-increasing staff. Just before building was commenced, lengthy negotiations which had been proceeding between the Society and the Corporation of Glasgow for land between the building line and the river were completed through the purchase by the Corporation of the land for £1,000; the Corporation agreeing, in addition, to make and maintain the street. This was a good bargain for the Society, for they had obtained £700 more for the land than it had cost them; while a good part of that £700 would have been swallowed up in making the new street. The covering in of, first, the stable courtyard and, later, of Hayfield Street was also excellent business, which made for the comfort and convenience of the men and horses, and was well worth the £670 which the two operations cost.