<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
     OF ALTEX INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 12/31/97, AND IS QUALIFIED
     IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                      
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         1,716,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  119,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,837,000
<PP&E>                                         2,223,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,011,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,083,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          84,000
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       157,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,842,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,083,000
<SALES>                                        192,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               224,000
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  184,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                40,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            40,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   40,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.00