<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1998 <CASH> 695,639 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 33,358,747 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 21,933,895 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 59,969,113 <PP&E> 95,572,984 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 167,871,531 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 27,899,277 <BONDS> 60,540,193 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,491,293 <OTHER-SE> 65,374,513 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 167,871,531 <SALES> 117,211,469 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 117,211,469 <CGS> 90,709,009 <TOTAL-COSTS> 90,709,009 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 118,457 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,333,940 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,697,972 <INCOME-TAX> 1,814,786 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,883,186 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,883,186 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.31 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.30