<ARTICLE> 5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1998
<CASH>                                     112,485,699
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              436,869,609
<ALLOWANCES>                                23,314,558
<INVENTORY>                                478,997,710
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         1,096,520,796
<PP&E>                                   1,640,026,424
<DEPRECIATION>                             724,350,985
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,466,952,648
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      821,392,778
<BONDS>                                    456,986,102
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                               1,067,176,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             2,466,952,648
<SALES>                                  1,518,252,644
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,550,813,285
<CGS>                                    1,485,322,219
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            31,105,355
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               872,578
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          12,303,315
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             18,831,374
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,895,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         15,936,374
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                15,936,374
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0