<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 23,264 <SECURITIES> 1,493 <RECEIVABLES> 135,797 <ALLOWANCES> (733) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 89,532 <PP&E> 652,808 <DEPRECIATION> (19,274) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,742,447 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 113,187 <BONDS> 514,551 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 396 <OTHER-SE> 836,564 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,742,447 <SALES> 17,632 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 385,097 <CGS> 14,051 <TOTAL-COSTS> 299,032 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 120 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21,835 <INCOME-PRETAX> 54,479 <INCOME-TAX> 20,861 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 33,618 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 33,618 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.83 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.83