<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOUND ON PAGES 1, 2, AND 3 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 114,452,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 191,862,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 4,913,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 338,349,000 <PP&E> 625,424,000 <DEPRECIATION> 135,083,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,118,957,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 242,137,000 <BONDS> 581,202,000 <COMMON> 8,259,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 119,805,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,118,957,000 <SALES> 346,819,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 346,819,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 284,123,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 13,703,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 20,235,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,569,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,189,000 <INCOME-TAX> 6,075,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,141,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 2,950,000 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,191,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 0