HERSHEY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE (1930)

I stumbled across this in a very old cookbook, from 1930! It is very moist and very delicious but I don't think I've ever had a chocolate cake that I didn't like! ;)

1.75 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1.00 teaspoon baking powder
1.00 teaspoon baking soda
0.50 teaspoon salt
0.50 cup vegetable shortening
1.50 cups sugar
2.00 eggs
1.00 teaspoon vanilla
0.67 cup cocoa
0.50 cup hot water plus
1.00 tablespoon hot water
1.00 cup sour milk*

Grease and flour two 9" layer cake pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt on wax paper. In large mixing bowl, beat shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Blend cocoa into hot water to make a smooth paste, gradually add to creamed mixture. Add flour alternating with sour milk to creamed mixture. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees f for 30 minutes, or till tops spring back when lightly pressed. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, cool completely.