Message-ID: <4502@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Aug-83 12:52:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.4502
Posted: Wed Aug 24 12:52:29 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 27-Aug-83 17:54:25 EDT
Lines: 15

herry could easily come from a number of other locations; in our universe
sherry is also prepared in New York (frequently bad) and California (some quite
good). I also suspect that anything less than a fanatic Moslem regime might
tolerate export-only alcoholic beverages---analogize to the frequently
commercial orientation of the Catholic church at a similar age, or to the
number of vintners that survived our Prohibition by making ostensibly
sacramental wines.
  - I seem to recall that in our universe mineral oil was more popular as
lubricant than as fuel for several decades, I think because it didn't seem
abundant enough to burn. Certainly oil was struck all over Pennsylvania in the
1820's-30's (? certainly before 1860) but wood was still a major power source
through the Civil War, especially for steamships. But we may be dragging this
too far; it's one thing to try to systematize a serious universe, but (knowing
Harrison) I don't think A TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL, HURRAH! was intended to be
seriously crafted.