<ARTICLE> 5

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                      34,175,250               6,957,672
<SECURITIES>                                36,998,971              32,868,158
<RECEIVABLES>                               17,250,510              18,536,528
<ALLOWANCES>                                   107,500                 107,500
<INVENTORY>                                  3,176,464               2,666,858
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            56,296,455              25,349,607
<PP&E>                                     257,963,740             213,503,249
<DEPRECIATION>                             114,880,456             103,463,342
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             281,765,216             209,459,250
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       32,038,905              20,391,286
<BONDS>                                     39,000,000              20,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          112,500                 125,000
<PREFERRED>                                    397,000                 398,000
<COMMON>                                    42,472,662              38,206,596
<OTHER-SE>                                 138,145,920             101,270,682
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               281,765,216             209,459,250
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            85,450,227              78,028,257
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               72,698,987              61,293,929
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          (52,781,043)            (15,644,270)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,058,192               1,928,610
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             62,474,091              30,449,988
<INCOME-TAX>                                24,970,647              12,422,328
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         37,503,444              18,027,660
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                37,503,444              18,027,660
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.99                    0.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.98                    0.96