<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 2,391,575 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 18,242,594 <ALLOWANCES> (723,900) <INVENTORY> 1,938,922 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 23,475,824 <PP&E> 152,805,751 <DEPRECIATION> 67,028,828 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,993,551 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 16,191,750 <BONDS> 86,881,107 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 41,148,148 <OTHER-SE> 21,467,654 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 172,993,551 <SALES> 126,316,467 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 126,316,467 <CGS> 78,250,320 <TOTAL-COSTS> 111,451,355 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,191,344 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,154,656 <INCOME-TAX> 4,246,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,908,656 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.60<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 0.59 <FN> <F1> EPS-BASIC </FN>