<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 38,543,208 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 180,485,255 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 100,330,696 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 355,732,583 <PP&E> 879,850,244 <DEPRECIATION> (216,872,452) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,903,665,196 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 270,228,480 <BONDS> 731,214,345 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 91,250,000 <COMMON> 40,438,158 <OTHER-SE> 251,772,010 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,903,665,196 <SALES> 1,858,646,444 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,858,646,444 <CGS> 1,477,984,773 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,477,984,773 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 317,565,475 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 39,067,429 <INCOME-PRETAX> 44,651,563 <INCOME-TAX> 14,097,651 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 30,553,912 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 30,553,912 <EPS-BASIC> 1.10 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.09