<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> FEB-29-2000 <CASH> 2,449,482 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 40,065,010 <ALLOWANCES> 708,219 <INVENTORY> 32,781,940 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 77,684,858 <PP&E> 208,135,885 <DEPRECIATION> 104,904,520 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 194,324,442 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 30,511,334 <BONDS> 70,518,323 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,574,388 <OTHER-SE> 80,976,336 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 194,324,442 <SALES> 126,018,688 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 126,018,688 <CGS> 95,733,283 <TOTAL-COSTS> 95,733,283 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 27,348 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,512,057 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,826,227 <INCOME-TAX> 4,090,425 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,735,802 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,735,802 <EPS-BASIC> 0.72 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.71