<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 2,653,522 130,551 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 660,941 500,602 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 11,138,808 3,207,276 <PP&E> 73,831,441 49,785,341 <DEPRECIATION> 16,585,316 12,433,801 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 75,650,263 42,376,665 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,594,758 8,387,746 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 10,185,244 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 1,000 1,000 <OTHER-SE> (14,810,559) (5,033,558) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 75,650,263 42,376,665 <SALES> 8,845,296 10,891,640 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 9,202,820 11,118,103 <CGS> 2,349,750 3,111,198 <TOTAL-COSTS> 14,209,412 12,892,652 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,271,587 3,982,797 <INCOME-PRETAX> (5,006,592) (1,774,549) <INCOME-TAX> 3,863,931 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,870,523) (1,774,549) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,870,523) (1,774,549) <EPS-PRIMARY> (104.17) (12.42) <EPS-DILUTED> (104.17) (12.42)