<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997 <CASH> 1,411,395 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 29,922,407 <ALLOWANCES> 1,030,698 <INVENTORY> 19,352,632 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,495,845 <PP&E> 180,332,183 <DEPRECIATION> 91,124,817 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 151,435,195 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 22,820,520 <BONDS> 52,150,579 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,471,887 <OTHER-SE> 62,561,165 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 151,435,195 <SALES> 155,009,971 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 155,009,971 <CGS> 118,384,373 <TOTAL-COSTS> 118,384,373 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 477,302 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,666,076 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,596,673 <INCOME-TAX> 4,945,935 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,650,738 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,650,738 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.80 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.80