<ARTICLE> 5

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000             MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                       7,004,215               3,003,190
<SECURITIES>                                80,840,517              35,624,776
<RECEIVABLES>                               17,109,606              18,151,592
<ALLOWANCES>                                   107,500                 107,500
<INVENTORY>                                  2,877,088               2,411,754
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            32,335,915              25,679,410
<PP&E>                                     227,664,921             198,889,676
<DEPRECIATION>                             108,160,396              97,618,174
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             269,726,488             198,851,099
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       19,910,205              19,418,307
<BONDS>                                     25,000,000              20,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          112,500                 125,000
<PREFERRED>                                    397,000                 405,100
<COMMON>                                    39,885,586              36,715,548
<OTHER-SE>                                 138,624,955              95,644,229
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               269,726,488             198,851,099
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            27,942,307              25,332,224
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               22,901,729              20,092,832
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           (4,275,366)             (2,071,101)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             540,895                 849,159
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              8,775,049               6,461,334
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,474,042               2,591,286
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,301,007               3,870,048
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,301,007               3,870,048
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.28                    0.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28                    0.21