<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 3rd Quarter Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Earnings and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000 <CASH> 11,810,059 <SECURITIES> 12,157,414 <RECEIVABLES> 54,110,896 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 82,069,665 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 167,742,146 <PP&E> 252,245,025 <DEPRECIATION> 90,502,574 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 345,628,720 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 53,688,018 <BONDS> 112,633,194 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,968,765 <OTHER-SE> 140,447,879 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 345,628,720 <SALES> 285,527,043 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 285,527,043 <CGS> 234,411,410 <TOTAL-COSTS> 234,411,410 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 24,777,379 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,139,425 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,198,829 <INCOME-TAX> 8,673,046 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,525,783 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,525,783 <EPS-BASIC> 1.14 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.14