<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 42,874,288 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 188,983,406 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 107,307,188 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 396,597,290 <PP&E> 921,893,539 <DEPRECIATION> (239,050,760) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,254,523,226 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 275,686,797 <BONDS> 949,993,413 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 91,250,000 <COMMON> 40,438,158 <OTHER-SE> 266,282,618 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,254,523,226 <SALES> 1,330,943,584 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,330,943,584 <CGS> 1,162,751,023 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,162,751,023 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 132,204,420 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,523,827 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,048,244 <INCOME-TAX> 4,811,209 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,239,035 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,239,035 <EPS-BASIC> 0.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.62