<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000 <CASH> 5,850,854 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 46,219,823 <ALLOWANCES> 784,675 <INVENTORY> 39,308,550 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 94,975,560 <PP&E> 207,845,028 <DEPRECIATION> 105,868,764 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 210,299,703 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 37,279,710 <BONDS> 77,202,012 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,582,386 <OTHER-SE> 83,569,842 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 210,299,703 <SALES> 198,483,734 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 198,483,734 <CGS> 151,146,357 <TOTAL-COSTS> 151,146,357 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 117,662 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,056,039 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,111,402 <INCOME-TAX> 6,477,195 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,634,207 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,634,207 <EPS-BASIC> 1.14 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.13