<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1999 <CASH> 1,132,223 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,599,558 <ALLOWANCES> 737,795 <INVENTORY> 22,414,945 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,880,490 <PP&E> 197,158,783 <DEPRECIATION> 98,989,509 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,251,894 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,695,630 <BONDS> 59,284,091 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,537,474 <OTHER-SE> 73,588,445 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 172,251,894 <SALES> 114,106,315 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 114,106,315 <CGS> 87,005,377 <TOTAL-COSTS> 87,005,377 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 137,879 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,393,916 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,436,726 <INCOME-TAX> 3,580,084 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,856,642 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,856,642 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.61