[ARTICLE] 5
[MULTIPLIER] 1000

                                                  
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          AUG-31-1994             AUG-31-1993
[PERIOD-END]                               AUG-31-1994             AUG-31-1993
[CASH]                                           92327                  151346
[SECURITIES]                                         0                       0
[RECEIVABLES]                                   725392                  454249
[ALLOWANCES]                                    175838                  107758
[INVENTORY]                                      86576                   51740
[CURRENT-ASSETS]                                842209                  670922
[PP&E]                                         2990559                 2168365
[DEPRECIATION]                                  736863                  600853
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                                 3967282                 2536713
[CURRENT-LIABILITIES]                           559065                  451819
[BONDS]                                        1740872                  948604
[COMMON]                                            91                      81
[PREFERRED-MANDATORY]                                0                       0
[PREFERRED]                                          0                       0
[OTHER-SE]                                     1025513                  655576
[TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY]                   3967282                 2536713
[SALES]                                              0                       0
[TOTAL-REVENUES]                               2970036                 2394567
[CGS]                                                0                       0
[TOTAL-COSTS]                                  2211257                 1786283
[OTHER-EXPENSES]                                159755                  137093
[LOSS-PROVISION]                                196013                  145538
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                              113741                   99787
[INCOME-PRETAX]                                 289270                  225866
[INCOME-TAX]                                    116074                   90675
[INCOME-CONTINUING]                             173196                  135191
[DISCONTINUED]                                       0                       0
[EXTRAORDINARY]                                      0                   13633
[CHANGES]                                            0                       0
[NET-INCOME]                                    173196                  121558
[EPS-PRIMARY]                                     1.98                    1.46
[EPS-DILUTED]                                     1.98                    1.45