<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         1,548
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 25,988
<ALLOWANCES>                                     418
<INVENTORY>                                    5,581
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              40,227
<PP&E>                                       218,119
<DEPRECIATION>                               126,169
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               132,378
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         25,484
<BONDS>                                       35,300
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                       8,759
<OTHER-SE>                                    46,589
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 132,378
<SALES>                                       54,557
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              54,557
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 49,807
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               740
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (333)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (61)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (272)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (272)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (.03)<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (.03)<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>