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                                  EXHIBIT 12




                              
                                                         1997            1996             1995            1994            1993     
                                                                                                         
Net Earnings Before                                                                                                                
  Extraordinary Item                                  30,384,643       19,839,374       12,707,271      8,915,373       3,521,914  
                                                                              
                                                                                                                                   
Fixed Charges:                                                                                                                     
  Interest (Excluding Capitalized Interest)           11,477,929        7,206,291        3,834,388        497,670         381,075  
  Amortization of Loan Costs                             825,014          748,638          322,176        254,080          20,421  
                                                      ----------       ----------       ----------      ---------       ---------  
                                                      12,302,943        7,954,929        4,156,564        751,750         401,496  
Net Earnings Before Extraordinary                                                                                                  
  Item and Fixed Charges                              42,687,586       27,794,303       16,863,835      9,667,123       3,923,410  
                                                                              
Divided by Fixed Charges (Including Capitalized 
  Interest):
  Fixed Charges                                       12,302,943        7,954,929        4,156,564        751,750         401,496
  Capitalized Interest                                   133,202                0                0              0               0
                                                      ----------       ----------        ---------      ---------       ---------
                                                      12,436,145        7,954,929        4,156,564        751,750         401,496

                                                      ----------       ----------        ---------      ---------       ---------
Ratio of Net Earnings to Fixed Charges                      3.43             3.49             4.06          12.86            9.77
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