<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