<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,106,410 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 46,446,714 <ALLOWANCES> 689,088 <INVENTORY> 65,796,079 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 139,864,834 <PP&E> 578,148,234 <DEPRECIATION> 46,207,987 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 701,743,893 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 71,160,140 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 491,367 <OTHER-SE> 331,977,513 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 701,743,893 <SALES> 118,462,740 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 123,372,780 <CGS> 103,482,349 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,898,682 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,342,458 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,462,044 <INCOME-TAX> 4,865,591 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,596,453 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,596,453 <EPS-PRIMARY> .16 <EPS-DILUTED> .75