<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOUND ON PAGES 3 AND 4 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ACCOMPANYING FOOTNOTES. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 21,587,485 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 4,033,876<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,596,055 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 33,507,612 <PP&E> 180,706,931 <DEPRECIATION> 34,293,783 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 204,186,346 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,258,220 <BONDS> 104,731,559<F2> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 103,593,432 <OTHER-SE> (33,490,667) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 204,186,346 <SALES> 171,366,640 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 173,356,390 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 87,689,037 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 114,925,767 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,020,139<F3> <INCOME-PRETAX> (35,332,828) <INCOME-TAX> (49,544) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (35,283,284) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (35,283,284) <EPS-PRIMARY> (3.82) <EPS-DILUTED> (3.82) <FN> <F1>RECEIVABLES ARE PRESENTED NET OF ALLOWANCES. <F2>LONG TERM DEBT DUE AFTER ONE YEAR, NET OF UNAMORTIZED DISCOUNT. <F3>NET OF INTEREST INCOME. </FN>