<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 45,534,830 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 82,975,191 <ALLOWANCES> 8,100,535 <INVENTORY> 21,067,688 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 152,131,415 <PP&E> 195,405,584 <DEPRECIATION> 122,870,314 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 286,023,471 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,967,418 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 42,471 <OTHER-SE> 230,783,371 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 286,023,471 <SALES> 39,780,908 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 224,511,381 <CGS> 16,077,309 <TOTAL-COSTS> 159,829,141 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,533,201 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (1,295,286) <INCOME-PRETAX> 49,900,217 <INCOME-TAX> 19,960,087 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 29,902,710 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,902,710 <EPS-PRIMARY> $0.68 <EPS-DILUTED> $0.68