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亚细亚火油公司奠定重庆百年工业基础

2021-08-23杨艳

重庆与世界 2021年7期
关键词:洋行南岸区油库

杨艳

在重慶南岸马鞍山树木茂密的山坡下,一栋小洋楼隐藏其中。经典的西式格调,青砖绿瓦的楼体被斑驳的树影包裹着,浅绿色的栏杆和窗棂彰显着百年前的建筑美学。精致的拱门房檐、楼梯扶手上的雕花、镶嵌琉璃的木门和西式壁炉,被岁月沉淀过的历史在面前缓缓展开。

这栋楼曾被称为重庆“红楼”,是一座火油库,曾是亚细亚洋行大班、二班的别墅和办公用地,抗战时期还曾是英国大使馆的所在地。

100多年前,煤油进入重庆,取代了人们照明用的桐油、菜油。最早进入重庆市场的是美国美孚石油公司。几乎在同一时间,英国亚细亚火油公司、美国德士古洋行也来到重庆。这几家洋行在19世纪曾垄断了亚洲特别是中国的销售市场。

英国亚细亚火油公司是现在著名的壳牌石油前身,它的分公司曾奠定重庆百年工业的基础,是西南近代工业的发祥地。当时,亚细亚火油公司总部设在上海,在天津、青岛、广州等城市建有地区性分公司,主要经营煤油、汽油、柴油、机油、鱼烛等,尤以壳牌汽油质量为佳,拥有“渝光”“滇光”“黔光”“安澜”4艘运油专轮。

民国初期,重庆万县钟姓富商与武汉汉口亚细亚分公司签订代理四川买办合约,买办左德范来到重庆做销售代理。随后,亚细亚火油公司派员来重庆设立重庆分公司,建立经销点,逐步扩大业务,左德范继续做该公司买办。

1918年,亚细亚火油公司又在唐家沱租用土地,修建多座大型储油池和高级职员宿舍,雇佣员工千余人。1950年上半年,重庆市政府接管亚细亚火油公司唐家沱油库。1951年4月,亚细亚火油公司的存货和设备被重庆市石油公司全部征购,从而结束了该公司在重庆的经营活动。

目前,亚细亚火油公司旧址已被公布为重庆市南岸区区级文物保护单位。

图片/南岸区文旅委 文管所提供

A small house is hidden beneath the tree-lined hillside of Maan Shan in the Nanan district. In a classic Western style, the gray-brick and black-tile building is wrapped in dappled tree shadows, with light green balustrades and windowpanes highlighting the architectural aesthetics of a century ago. The exquisite arched eaves, carvings on the staircase handrails, glazed wooden doors, and western fireplaces quietly unfold a period of history before you.

Once known as Chongqing's "Red Building", this building was used as a kerosene depot, a villa and office for the "Tai-pan" (literally "top class", meaning general manager) and deputy manager of Asiatic Petroleum Company, and the seat of the British Embassy during the War of Resistance Against Japan, respectively.

Kerosene entered Chongqing over 100 years ago, replacing tung oil and rapeseed oil that people had used for thousands of years. The first to enter the Chongqing market was Mobil Oil Corp. (USA). At almost the same time, the presence of Asiatic Petroleum Company (UK) and Texaco (USA) was also visible in Chongqing. These foreign companies had a monopoly on the sales market in Asia, especially in China, in the 19th century.

Asiatic Petroleum Company (UK) was the predecessor of Shell, a famous oil company now. The settling down of the company in Chongqing laid the foundation for the city's century-old industry and served as the fountainhead of the modern industry in Chinas southwest. At that time, the company, headquartered in Shanghai, set up regional branches in Tianjin, Qingdao, Guangzhou, and other cities, mainly trading kerosene, gasoline, diesel, motor oil, and candles, among other products, with Shell gasoline the best in quality. The company owned four special oil tankers such as "Yuguang","Dianguang" "Qianguang" and "Anlan".

At the beginning of the Republic of China, a rich merchant, surnamed Zhong at Chongqings Wanxian, inked a contract with the Hankow branch of Asiatic Petroleum Company for agenting the latter's business in Sichuan province, Zuo Defan was dispatched to Chongqing to act as a sales agent. Subsequently, the company sent staff to Chongqing to set up the branch, put up outlets, and progressively expanded business, Zuo Defan remained as the agent in the branch.

In 1918, Asiatic Petroleum Company leased land in Tangjiatuo and built many large-sized oil storage tanks and senior staff quarters, employing over a thousand people. In the first half of 1950, Chongqing Municipal Government took over the oil depot at Tangjiatuo. In April 1951, the company's inventory and equipment were purchased by Chongqing Petroleum Company, marking an end of the company's operations in Chongqing.

At present, the former site of Asiatic Petroleum Company has been identified as a cultural site under the protection of Chongqings Nanan District.

Photos/ Provided by Nanan District Culture and Tourism Committee,

And Institute of Culture Relics Management

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