<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 4,902,000 <SECURITIES> 26,658,000 <RECEIVABLES> 449,742,000 <ALLOWANCES> 73,719,000 <INVENTORY> 63,760,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 574,179,000 <PP&E> 717,750,000 <DEPRECIATION> 121,188,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,627,368,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 268,461,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 6,000 <COMMON> 704,000 <OTHER-SE> 874,362,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,627,368,000 <SALES> 1,405,305,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,405,305,000 <CGS> 1,175,798,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,259,365,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 94,817,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 82,088,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (30,965,000) <INCOME-TAX> (8,158,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (22,321,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,924,000) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (25,900,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.74) <EPS-DILUTED> (.74)