·歷史上的紫竹林大街

清光緒四年(1878)三月，輪船招商局會辦朱其昂，在天津紫竹林一帶創(chuàng)辦了貽來牟機器磨坊，是為天津第一家近代化私人面粉工廠，也是中國食品工業(yè)最先使用機器生產(chǎn)的廠家。
有關輪船招商局，初刻于光緒十年(1884)的《津門雜記》有這樣的記載： “招商津局，在紫竹林南。同治十一年間創(chuàng)立，總局設于上海。仿西國之制，由眾商集資匯辦，故名招商。置備輪船多只，載客載貨，南北往來，以便商民販運，并可裝糧載兵，裕國便民，兩有裨益。”有詩云： “報單新到火輪船，晝夜能行路幾千。多少官商來往便，快如飛鳥過云天?！?br>“貽來牟” 的名稱，很有意思。這個詞來源于我國古代《詩經(jīng)》。“貽” ,贈送也。《詩經(jīng)·邶風·靜女》曰： “靜女其孌，貽我彤管。” “牟” 通 “麰” ,即大麥。《詩經(jīng)·周頌·思文》曰： “貽我來牟，帝命率育?！?“貽來牟”就是贈送大麥。這里的意思是說，這個機器磨坊，可以贈送給人們大麥磨成的面粉。
“貽來牟”這個詞也可以作英語解釋?！百O來牟”作為音譯，其英文是 “Element”,原意為“元素” 、“基礎” ,取其“最早”之意。也就是說這座機器磨坊，是開辦得最早的面粉工廠。
所以說它是近代機器磨坊，因為貽來牟的主要機器是進口的先進設備。中國傳統(tǒng)的磨坊是人推、畜拉，貽來牟磨坊則是以進口的蒸氣鍋爐為動力，帶動從德國進口的質地特硬而又耐磨的石磨。所以人們又習慣地稱它為“火輪磨坊” 。
貽來牟磨坊有技師2人，工人10余人。工廠的人員雖然少，但是效益很高，每年盈利六七千兩白銀。后來，由于操作不當，造成鍋爐爆炸，引起廠房大火，工人死傷，機器被毀，磨坊遂一蹶不振。
In March 1878 (the 4th year of Emperor Guangxu),Zhu Qi`ang,head of the Tianjin China Merchants SteamNavigation Company,opened the Yilaimou Flour Millin Zizhulin of Tianjin. This was the first private modernflour plant in Tianjin as well as the first factory that usedmachinery in China.
The Jinmen Zaji,first printed in 1884,said that"Tianjin China Merchants Steam Navigation Company,headquarted in Shanghai,was located at the south ofZizhulin in the 11th year of Emperor Tongzhi. It wasorganized in western style and invested by businessmen.The bureau has freighters and passenger ships for thepublic,the businessmen and even the army. This isbeneficial both to the country and to the people." A poemis read like this,"It`s said there are new steamships,which can travel several kilomeres in one day; Greatconvenience was given to officials and businessmenbecause the ships travel faster than birds."
The name "Yilaimou" of the mill is interesting. Itoriginates from the Book of Songs (Classic of Poetry).The Chinese character Yi means to give or donate andMou means barley. While,the English name of Yilaimousounds like "Element". The name indicated that it wasthe first flour mill in Tianjin.
Machines of Yilaimou were imported from abroad.In the past,the Chinese people used manpower orlivestock to grind wheat into flour. But,the steam-powered Yilailou`s stone mills were imported fromGermany.
The Yilaimou Flour Mill only had two techniciansand about 10 workers,but it performed well withan annual income of 6000-7000 taels of silver.Unfortunately,the boiler got exploded due to pooroperation,leading to a conflagration that toppled theworkshop,ruined machines and caused casualties. Sincethen,the mill never recovered.

·法租界紫竹林碼頭