<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1997 <CASH> 1,791 <SECURITIES> 7,945 <RECEIVABLES> 14,254 <ALLOWANCES> 707 <INVENTORY> 552 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 26,413 <PP&E> 66,294 <DEPRECIATION> 23,800 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 76,707 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 10,946 <BONDS> 1,421 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 99 <OTHER-SE> 55,375 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 76,707 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 39,681 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 34,001 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 99 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 327 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,254 <INCOME-TAX> 1,965 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,289 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> .34