<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1997
<CASH>                                          11,160
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  218,150
<ALLOWANCES>                                     7,236
<INVENTORY>                                      7,927
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               251,540
<PP&E>                                       1,540,023
<DEPRECIATION>                                 303,454
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,610,878
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          175,445
<BONDS>                                        878,010
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       180,435
<OTHER-SE>                                     147,530
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,610,878
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               678,619
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  611,636
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               331,697
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              44,273
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (306,122)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (122,789)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (183,452)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      20
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (183,432)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (1.33)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0