<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 35,954 <SECURITIES> 7,015,000 <RECEIVABLES> 1,566,819 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,929,851 <PP&E> 18,755,681 <DEPRECIATION> 3,834,972 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 26,051,587 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,050,595 <BONDS> 2,520,022 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,930,123 <OTHER-SE> 14,550,847 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 23,121,464 <SALES> 260,579 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 738,543 <CGS> 98,765 <TOTAL-COSTS> 823,784 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,512,552 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 573,041 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,597,793) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.13) <EPS-DILUTED> 0