<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 722 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 43,896 <ALLOWANCES> 314 <INVENTORY> 2,662 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,036 <PP&E> 189,327 <DEPRECIATION> 123,053 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 127,825 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,842 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,728 <OTHER-SE> 49,159 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 127,825 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 295,079 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 273,230 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,703 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,251 <INCOME-TAX> 7,972 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,279 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,279 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.57<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 2.39 <FN> <F1>Tag 40 Basic EPS </FN>