<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997             OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1996             NOV-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997             APR-30-1998
<CASH>                                           4,969                   7,694
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,870                  14,194
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,127                   1,466
<INVENTORY>                                         78                     232
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                19,130                  21,736
<PP&E>                                          66,346                  86,583
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,124                  21,972
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  70,843                  88,496
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           27,853                  37,221
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            18                      18
<OTHER-SE>                                      23,504                  29,925
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    70,843                  88,496
<SALES>                                         35,532                  40,538
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                35,532                  40,538
<CGS>                                           17,950                  19,065
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   17,950                  19,065
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 8,326                   9,450
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 741                   1,695
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,319                  10,358
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,579                   3,937
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,740                   6,421
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,740                   6,421
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.33                    0.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.33                    0.36