The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940 Page: 79
576 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Colonization Activities of Charles William Post 79
American Elms, Lombardy Poplars, Cedars, Catalpas, Black
Locusts, Mulberries, among many others, were planted for shade
trees along streets and highways, and watered by wagon-borne
tanks.'8
On a sub-irrigated garden five acres in extent, Post grew veg-
etables that he believed adaptable to this region. Here he planted
watermelons, cantaloupes, peppers, beans, peas, lettuce, cabbage,
turnips, carrots, and tomatoes, to mention only a few. In the
experimental orchard, a large variety of fruit trees flourished.19
A careful record was kept of each variety of fruit and vegetable,
to ascertain those best suited to West Texas soil.
Post's plan of business enterprise in this city was to construct
the building, set up the fixtures or machinery, supply the necessary
goods, and operate the business until a suitable purchaser could
be found. The ultimate aim was to sell the business on liberal
terms, at a modest profit. For several years, however, Post assumed
the task of operating business enterprises in the city, the largest
of which was the Postex Cotton Mill, representing an investment
of half a million dollars.
Among the early enterprises to be set in operation, the hotel
was an object of meticulous care. In January, 1908, Post penned
these instructions:
"Hotel-In advance of completion, secure a person who will
rent and run it. Contract must provide that it must be kept
in a cleanly manner, food well cooked and served, and bed linen
changed with each change of guests."0
This paragraph was only the introduction to a long list of
instructions about every phase of operation of the hotel. Regard-
ing meals, he had this to say:
"I want the meals plentiful and well cooked. We should
deal largely in boiled or stewed beef for the meat. Don't ever
fry beefsteaks swimming in grease. The proper way to cook
a beefsteak is to heat the skillet very hot indeed. Grease the
bottom with some fat off the steak itself. Then drop the steak
into the skillet when the bottom has been made smooth with
tallow. The minute it touches, press it down in all parts.
This sears the surface, coagulates the albumin and stops the
lsPost Records, Minutes II, p. 46, August 4, 1910.
19Post Records, Minutes I, p. 194, July 8, 1909.
20Post Records, Minutes I, p. 21, January 3, 1908.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940, periodical, 1940; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101111/m1/87/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.