<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          73,855
<SECURITIES>                                     7,941
<RECEIVABLES>                                  754,266
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0<F1>
<INVENTORY>                                    599,648
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,633,570
<PP&E>                                       2,785,891
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,459,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,131,981
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,299,372
<BONDS>                                        760,750
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     48,217
<COMMON>                                       332,662
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,303,443
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,131,981
<SALES>                                      1,642,930
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,642,930
<CGS>                                          814,970
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  814,970
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0<F1>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              38,464
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                221,135
<INCOME-TAX>                                    54,863
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            166,272
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   166,272
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.63
<FN>
<F1>THESE ITEMS ARE CONSOLIDATED ONLY AT YEAR-END
</FN>