<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 38,387,805 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 82,269,239 <ALLOWANCES> (8,140,308) <INVENTORY> 21,173,007 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 142,411,625 <PP&E> 200,180,312 <DEPRECIATION> (128,120,809) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 271,257,266 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,415,079 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 42,290 <OTHER-SE> 222,711,560 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 271,257,266 <SALES> 25,087,388 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 148,211,724 <CGS> 10,011,641 <TOTAL-COSTS> 105,759,842 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,434,153 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (852,318) <INCOME-PRETAX> 33,292,558 <INCOME-TAX> 13,317,023 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,954,697 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,954,697 <EPS-PRIMARY> $0.46 <EPS-DILUTED> $0.46