<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 1,852,454 <SECURITIES> 4,912,194 <RECEIVABLES> 14,200,040 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 6,948,321 <PP&E> 626,459,430 <DEPRECIATION> (125,275,070) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 529,097,369 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,124,666 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 56,250,000 <COMMON> 1,707,246 <OTHER-SE> 137,093,959 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 195,051,205 <SALES> 74,258,037 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 79,677,609 <CGS> 31,005,051 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,237,058 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,569,593 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,382,206 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 17,382,206 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,382,206 <EPS-PRIMARY> .83 <EPS-DILUTED> .83