<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                      48,178,515
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               41,879,738
<ALLOWANCES>                                   628,256
<INVENTORY>                                 46,514,870
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,087,391
<PP&E>                                     402,416,147
<DEPRECIATION>                              21,970,625
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             542,780,222
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       83,581,252
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       478,479
<OTHER-SE>                                 298,828,049
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               542,780,222
<SALES>                                     98,059,315
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            98,973,970
<CGS>                                       73,910,018
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               79,319,908
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,401,115
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             17,252,947
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,667,989
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         14,584,958
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                14,584,958
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .30