<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 4th Quarter Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statment of Earnings and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 16,167,025 <SECURITIES> 11,727,636 <RECEIVABLES> 42,415,061 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 31,902,900 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 105,407,917 <PP&E> 152,158,270 <DEPRECIATION> 68,522,086 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 189,210,889 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 30,490,039 <BONDS> 24,291,667 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,858,128 <OTHER-SE> 116,589,760 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 189,210,889 <SALES> 295,203,974 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 295,203,974 <CGS> 237,483,709 <TOTAL-COSTS> 237,483,709 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 25,446,047 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 830,743 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,443,475 <INCOME-TAX> 11,568,066 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,875,409 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,875,409 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.79 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.77