<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 32,077,475 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 65,780,231 <ALLOWANCES> 3,506,707 <INVENTORY> 14,900,408 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 117,721,299 <PP&E> 110,197,047 <DEPRECIATION> 58,551,191 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 177,550,213 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,601,615 <BONDS> 16,990,605 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,910,208 <OTHER-SE> 101,069,316 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 177,550,213 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 108,613,156 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 81,180,248 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,972,738 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 348,550 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,611,721 <INCOME-TAX> 5,117,578 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,494,143 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,494,143 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.51 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.50