<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,1998, AND THE RELATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,1998, AND THE NOTES RELATED THERETO AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         240,756
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               61,447,465
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,741,737
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            80,087,015
<PP&E>                                     476,593,678
<DEPRECIATION>                             121,738,171
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             441,417,424
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       69,848,913
<BONDS>                                    113,723,749
<COMMON>                                       122,601
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                 196,812,094
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               441,417,424
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           137,512,075
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              124,360,633
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,135,936
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             11,201,542
<INCOME-TAX>                                 4,088,562
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          7,112,980
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,112,980
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56