<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>


THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS AND  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF EARNINGS  AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                        SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                                                    5,832
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            72,562
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              4,197
<INVENTORY>                                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                         89,075
<PP&E>                                                                  207,866
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           89,845
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          320,539
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                    49,380
<BONDS>                                                                  75,857
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                  5,315
<OTHER-SE>                                                              168,268
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            320,539
<SALES>                                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        210,293
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           185,970
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           (566)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        3,004
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          21,885
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              8,207
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      13,678
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             13,678
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               .23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               .23