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Show COPPER WIRE VALUE IS TAXING PROBLEM State Board of Equalization to Decide Point Before Declaring Basis for Assessment What vaJue to place upon copper wire used in transmission lines is on of the j problems to be 'faced by the skite board of equalization whn it comrnrnres ih ' first Monday in March tn make its as- 1 opmeiHs of public utilities, and its d-- ; eision on the question will affect by thousands of dollars the total valuation placed upon such lines. William Kailey, secretary of the board, pointed out yesterday that the hoard will be compelled to adopt a definite policy , with regard to the valuation of the copper, cop-per, deciding whether to put It on the tax roils at its value from a standpoint ; of earnings or to take into consideration : the increased value of cupper In the ; open market. ; Two years ago copper was worth l. i cents a pound. Its market value, Janu- I ary 1. 11 7 the date taken for the fix- i ing of utilities valuations on which to I base tills year's assessments-, is 11 owr : 3.i cents a pound. j The board, however, may consider the i fact that, thou eh its market value has 1 greatly increased, the earnlmr value of j copper in the transmission lines is no j creater than it was when the lines were i constructed. i This Is one of a number of knotty "i problems incident to the wartime Infla- . tinn of prices which th board will be ; called upon to tackl". The general im- ; presalon Is that, white valua; ions of . some utilities may be increased, none will be lowered. |