<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998 <CASH> 5,452,281 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 34,891,539 <ALLOWANCES> 651,720 <INVENTORY> 20,158,857 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,806,267 <PP&E> 194,085,549 <DEPRECIATION> 96,547,340 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,165,906 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 26,946,775 <BONDS> 61,184,124 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,530,856 <OTHER-SE> 69,993,101 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 172,165,906 <SALES> 232,902,210 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 232,902,210 <CGS> 180,144,500 <TOTAL-COSTS> 180,144,500 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 311,711 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,495,336 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,181,411 <INCOME-TAX> 5,149,463 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,031,948 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,031,948 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.85 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.83