alternatehistory.com

Suppose in the 1890s, a new convention evolved around New Orleans: The meter.

People would talk about distances both by the Imperial system and by the metric meter. By the 1930s, in Louisiana used the word "meter" three times as often as "foot/feet" or "yards" combined although most knew both distance conventions. Meter-sticks and tape measures are duel-marked.

However there is one wrinkle. When talking about geographical distances greater than one kilometer, about 3/4 times locals use a new term, the "Meter" with a capital M. What is a "Meter"? It is actually a kilometer. So when talking about height or room dimensions, people usually refer to meters and centimeters, but when talking about driving distances, they talk about kilometers or Meters. And both "Meters" (the kilometer meter) and "meters" (the regular one) are capitalized when beginning a sentence.

I don't really care how the convention starts. Let's say it does start in one way or another and does spread. What is the likelihood it lasts until 2000 if there aren't butterflies on the world wars?
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