<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996 NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 4,969 6,077 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,870 16,466 <ALLOWANCES> 1,127 1,127 <INVENTORY> 78 192 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 19,130 22,494 <PP&E> 66,346 77,276 <DEPRECIATION> 17,124 20,310 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 71,593 82,499 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 27,853 29,691 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 17 17 <OTHER-SE> 23,505 26,136 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 71,593 82,499 <SALES> 35,532 20,291 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 35,532 20,291 <CGS> 17,950 9,483 <TOTAL-COSTS> 17,950 9,483 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,326 5,662 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 741 869 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,319 4,244 <INCOME-TAX> 3,579 1,613 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,740 2,631 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,740 2,631 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.33 0.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.33 0.15