cjh@CCA-UNIX@csin.UUCP (08/24/83)
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.