<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,1999, AND
THE RELATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30,1999, 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         351,984
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               73,557,397
<ALLOWANCES>                                 2,781,578
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            91,964,879
<PP&E>                                     588,427,165
<DEPRECIATION>                             148,168,863
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             543,039,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       75,409,768
<BONDS>                                    179,520,203
<COMMON>                                       123,016
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                 227,020,808
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               543,039,283
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           160,434,754
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              144,886,110
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,058,774
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             13,349,392
<INCOME-TAX>                                 4,724,764
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          8,624,628
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 8,624,628
<EPS-BASIC>                                      .70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .67