The annual report from the Secretary of the Interior to Congress in 1951 discusses the progress made in the development of synthetic liquid fuels, specifically focusing on oil shale and coal gasification. The report highlights the advancements in mining, retorting, and refining oil shale, as well as the development of a new gas-synthesis process for converting coal into liquid fuels. The report also emphasizes the economic benefits of utilizing oil shale for fuel production, as it requires less steel than petroleum. Additionally, the report encourages the establishment of commercial oil-shale plants to further explore the potential of America's oil shale resources.