Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

300 years since the first steam engine Slovakia: In 18th century the silver mines of the Habsburg Monarchy, located mainly on the Slovak territory, were constrained by flooding. The waterwheels and horse gins had reached their technical limits. In 1722 a new steam engine replaced waterwheels in the battle against pit water. This engine was constructed by a British engineer, Isaac Potter, in Nová Baňa. Potter improved the control of the engine imported from England and from 1730 he successfully built further installations in the Slovakian mines. At the occasion of this anniversary we visit a special instalation in the mining museum of Banská Štiavnica. On the show we will also look on the funeral of cardinal Jozef Tomko in St. Elisabeth's Cathedral in Košice. Cardinal emeritus Jozef Tomko, who was the oldest member of the College of Cardinals and the only Slovak cardinal, died in Rome on August 8 at the age of 98.