<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         2,631
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 27,129
<ALLOWANCES>                                     221
<INVENTORY>                                    5,630
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              40,790
<PP&E>                                       216,368
<DEPRECIATION>                               125,028
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               132,373
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         25,281
<BONDS>                                       34,491
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                       8,759
<OTHER-SE>                                    46,911
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 132,373
<SALES>                                      111,095
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             111,095
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                100,988
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,554
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   98
<INCOME-TAX>                                      47
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               51
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                      51
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    .01<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    .01<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>