Perhaps,

[Mark Kohut]

in thinking about the Trystero and Oedipa's
quest and a changed historical text, we haven't given enough
attention to why TRP chose an alternative mail
delivery system in his book.

I think it was a perfect way of saying what the
wonder of US Mail delivery was--and had been--
to unify the US with democratic communication..
(now endangered, needing an alternative system)

In his History of the US, Henry Adams wrote
that in 1800 there could be seven--7--mail deliveries
a day within Philly and NYC. 7!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/opinion/why-the-post-office-makes-america-great.html?smid=fb-nytopinion&smtyp=cur&_r=0
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Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l