<ARTICLE>                  5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEETS AND INCOME  STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
     ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000
       
                                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                              SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                                                 OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                                   JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                                                                               8,720
<SECURITIES>                                                                                         5,006
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                                       31,129
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                                           565
<INVENTORY>                                                                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                                    69,654
<PP&E>                                                                                              60,562
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                                      29,204
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                                     130,610
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                                               27,978
<BONDS>                                                                                              1,306
<COMMON>                                                                                               127
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                              0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                                          93,293
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                                       130,610
<SALES>                                                                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                                   137,031
<CGS>                                                                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                                       52,047
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                                    20,509
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                                       120
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                                     102
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                                     23,092
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                                         9,360
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                                 13,732
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                                        13,732
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                                         1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                                         1.03