<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 APR-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1997 MAY-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1997 JUL-31-1996 <CASH> 1,706,299 72,948 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,081,075 2,119,406 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,935,554 2,246,530 <PP&E> 49,337,337 36,962,822 <DEPRECIATION> (16,483,552) (10,254,970) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 39,477,504 30,857,487 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,362,472 11,866,608 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 2,871,114 <COMMON> 20,013,082 11,681,150 <OTHER-SE> (14,261,832) (13,978,300) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 39,477,504 30,857,487 <SALES> 2,727,336 2,932,328 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,727,336 2,932,328 <CGS> 3,360,553 5,984,980 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,360,553 5,984,980 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (364,093) (5,597,878) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 682,073 981,434 <INCOME-PRETAX> (951,197) (9,631,964) <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (951,197) (9,782,969) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (951,197) (9,782,969) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.04) (0.63) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.04) (0.63)