<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1999 <CASH> 23,956,787 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 71,409,202 <ALLOWANCES> 3,749,805 <INVENTORY> 34,050,749 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 139,898,108 <PP&E> 136,382,118 <DEPRECIATION> 63,527,841 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 274,777,750 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,411,787 <BONDS> 47,492,247 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,682,396 <OTHER-SE> 148,260,309 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 274,777,750 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 326,742,438 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 246,245,006 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 13,009,139 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,243,999 <INCOME-PRETAX> 37,975,454 <INCOME-TAX> 15,064,701 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 22,910,753 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 22,910,753 <EPS-BASIC> 1.03 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.01