<ARTICLE>                     5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         3,613,777
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  8,810,440
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    2,024,049
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               16,151,302
<PP&E>                                         117,689,733
<DEPRECIATION>                                 35,683,756
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 147,103,769
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          12,966,610
<BONDS>                                        20,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       43,355,988
<OTHER-SE>                                     45,825,513
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   147,103,769
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               37,401,922
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  25,100,044
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             6,746,240
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                11,627,254
<INCOME-TAX>                                   4,327,150
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            6,930,055
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   6,930,055
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.531
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0