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Show Antwerp, or Hamburg seems remote. For several years rubber imports to Bordeaux largely and steadily increased, increas-ed, but with the beginning of 1907 there was noted quito a falling off, a similar state of affairs continuing in 1908. Opinions differ as to the causes for this condition, some ascribing it to the almost universal "slump" in trade consequent con-sequent upon the financial crises ln the United States, Chile, Mexico, Ger-1 Ger-1 many, Argentina, and Denmark. Others Oth-ers think It due to tho fact that tho African rubber for a time .showed 8uch a deterioration in quality that the demand de-mand sensibly lessened. In the year 1S99, when Its Importation Importa-tion became Important, Bordeaux received re-ceived 175 tons of crude rubber. In 1902, the receipts increased to 200 tons, in 1903 it ran up to 1,113 tons; in 1904 to 1,183 tons; in 1905 to 1,330 tons, and In 1906 to 1,916 tons. With the beginning of 1907, the Importation began to decline somewhat, there having hav-ing been imported in that jear but 1,576 tons. In the present year, tho falling off has been noticeable also; the total amount received from January Jan-uary 1 to October 31 having been 908 tons, against 1,376 tons for the same period in 1907. The Importers seem confident that the decline is only temporary and they think that with the 'removal of tho causes that have operated unfavorably there will be a decided improvement. Changed conditions in the United States are hailed as an Indication of greatly Increased activity in crude rubber rub-ber as ln other branches of trade. Then th great improvement in tho quality of the product of the African field, duo to the energotlc government measures adopted to prevent fraud, havo resulted 1 in a better quality of rubber. The native growers in Africa not only learnod to hold their supplies of rubber for a hlghor market, but they also developed Ideas of fraud and adulteration. It was discovered some time ago that many of them, before bringing in their rubber to the trading posts for sale, thoroughly steeped the fresh gum ln water, a process that added to the weight, but seriously injured in-jured its quality. WORLD RUBBER TRADE. In previous reports Consul D. I. Murphy mentioned Bordeaux as an important im-portant center of the trade In crude rubber and referred to the hopes entertained en-tertained that it might develop into tho world's great market for that commodity. com-modity. As to tho present situation at that French port and the general trade in rubber the consul now writes: Tbe city has certainly become tho principal outlet for tho product of tho French colonies ln Africa, but the prospect of its supplanting Liverpool, |