<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>

       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                           8,840,051
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,982,005
<ALLOWANCES>                                      (119,000)
<INVENTORY>                                        608,031
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                32,556,510
<PP&E>                                          81,584,051
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (16,836,798)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  97,509,533
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           17,796,710
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                            62,865
<OTHER-SE>                                      59,833,410
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    97,509,533
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               143,210,822
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  142,020,278
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,164,056
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     26,488
<INCOME-TAX>                                        10,012
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 16,476
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        16,476
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .00