<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 1,902 <SECURITIES> 15,590 <RECEIVABLES> 121,596 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 10,426 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 181,076 <PP&E> 343,388 <DEPRECIATION> 97,661 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 499,813 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 67,228 <BONDS> 335,240 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,500 <OTHER-SE> 92,845 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 499,813 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 393,726 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 357,305 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,216 <LOSS-PROVISION> 29,185 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,901 <INCOME-PRETAX> (7,881) <INCOME-TAX> (3,232) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,649) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0