<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                        THE 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
<CURRENCY>                                                          U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
<CASH>                                                                 3,801,821
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                         10,200,736
<ALLOWANCES>                                                             354,858
<INVENTORY>                                                              365,195
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                      17,232,312
<PP&E>                                                                65,308,100
<DEPRECIATION>                                                        14,583,304
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        68,766,067
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                 11,166,073
<BONDS>                                                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                  99,045
<OTHER-SE>                                                            47,956,119
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                          68,766,067
<SALES>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                      21,322,548
<CGS>                                                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                         17,793,070
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        22,527
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        3,552,005
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           1,460,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    2,092,005
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           2,092,005
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                .21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                .21