<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 2,904 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 155,869 <ALLOWANCES> 15,829 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 169,243 <PP&E> 677,635 <DEPRECIATION> 129,308 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 916,027 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 140,050 <BONDS> 260,365 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 489 <OTHER-SE> 428,679 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 916,027 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 660,874 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 523,097 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 27,303 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,418 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 74,595 <INCOME-TAX> 22,901 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 51,694 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 51,694 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.10 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.10