<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                      15,089,795
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               42,770,562
<ALLOWANCES>                                   641,050
<INVENTORY>                                 53,798,415
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           130,552,335
<PP&E>                                     487,544,566
<DEPRECIATION>                              33,132,852
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             598,459,509
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       56,660,108
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       491,311
<OTHER-SE>                                 329,585,005
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               598,459,509
<SALES>                                    305,479,968
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           307,362,525
<CGS>                                      231,182,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              251,131,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           5,480,387
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             50,641,887
<INCOME-TAX>                                 7,452,041
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         43,189,846
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            (7,623,910)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                35,565,936
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .74