<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 21,885,533 21,885,533 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,149,136 9,149,136 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 11,769,345 11,769,345 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 50,940,719 50,940,719 <PP&E> 316,036,891 316,036,891 <DEPRECIATION> (27,769,707) (27,769,707) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 345,810,726 345,810,726 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 53,412,281 53,412,281 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 28 28 <COMMON> 258,298 258,298 <OTHER-SE> 288,392,166 288,392,166 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 345,810,726 345,810,726 <SALES> 89,807,731 235,290,982 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 89,807,731 235,290,982 <CGS> 27,592,948 72,190,678 <TOTAL-COSTS> 76,770,670 201,471,956 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (360,274) (1,134,923) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,397,335 34,953,949 <INCOME-TAX> 4,823,036 12,583,416 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,574,299 22,370,533 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.32 0.84