<ARTICLE> 5

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1999
<CASH>                                       3,071,189
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               36,877,770
<ALLOWANCES>                                   708,637
<INVENTORY>                                 22,270,124
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            66,694,317
<PP&E>                                     195,809,555
<DEPRECIATION>                              96,922,317
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             177,536,677
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       27,227,479
<BONDS>                                     60,553,375
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     9,540,190
<OTHER-SE>                                  76,355,571
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               177,536,677
<SALES>                                    173,809,651
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           173,809,651
<CGS>                                      133,013,945
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              133,013,945
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               123,584
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,472,509
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             14,203,841
<INCOME-TAX>                                 5,348,236
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          8,855,605
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 8,855,605
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.92