<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                      37,660,487              57,267,986<F1>
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                9,949,152              10,575,874
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 10,651,892              11,965,894
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            63,882,706              85,412,481
<PP&E>                                     245,395,191             208,764,443
<DEPRECIATION>                            (21,440,420)            (18,869,051)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             293,761,549             281,198,715
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       26,579,649              21,035,767
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                        284                     284
<COMMON>                                       253,286                 252,253
<OTHER-SE>                                 263,212,793             256,194,874
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               293,761,549             281,198,715
<SALES>                                     64,300,777              53,070,828
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            64,300,777              53,070,828<F1>
<CGS>                                       19,655,180              15,973,050
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               55,723,196              47,583,183
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,116                  58,154
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           (491,800)                  40,711
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              9,053,265               5,388,780
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,259,175               1,930,141
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,794,090               3,458,639
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,794,090               3,458,639
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.22                    0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.22                    0.17
<FN>
<F1>THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN RESTATED TO INCLUDE THE
ACCOUNTS AND OPERATIONS FOR ALL PERIODS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH AN
ACQUISITION TRANSACTION ACOUNTED FOR AS A POOLING OF INTERESTS.
</FN>