<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 4,188,318 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,203,317 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 5,594,619 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 24,197,234 <PP&E> 324,822,185 <DEPRECIATION> (114,183,790) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 244,555,516 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,387,147 <BONDS> 150,000,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 49,041 <OTHER-SE> 69,510,134 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 244,555,516 <SALES> 182,805,233 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 187,795,834 <CGS> 148,454,908 <TOTAL-COSTS> 189,680,491 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (535,400) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,291,137 <INCOME-PRETAX> (8,705,274) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,705,274) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,705,274) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0