<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         2,435
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 28,949
<ALLOWANCES>                                     363
<INVENTORY>                                    5,302
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              40,901
<PP&E>                                       216,073
<DEPRECIATION>                               126,276
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               130,929
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         24,452
<BONDS>                                       34,125
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                       8,763
<OTHER-SE>                                    47,651
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 130,929
<SALES>                                      172,013
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             172,013
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                155,212
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,334
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1,552
<INCOME-TAX>                                     768
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              784
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                     784
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    .09<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    .09<F1>
        

<FN>
(1)  EPS-Primary and EPS-Diluted have been restated to reflect the application
     of Financial Accounting Standard No. 128, "Earnings Per Share."
</FN>