<ARTICLE>      5
<LEGEND> 
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
JULY 31, 1998 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JULY 31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE FOOTNOTES
THERETO.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 MAY-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-31-1998
<CASH>                                               2,471
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       19,924
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,261
<INVENTORY>                                            351
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    26,018
<PP&E>                                              92,709
<DEPRECIATION>                                      41,206
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     207,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               24,865
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               139
<OTHER-SE>                                             140
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       207,283
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    36,717
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       20,851
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    10,724
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       412
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   1,572
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      3,669
<INCOME-TAX>                                         1,559
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  2,110
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         2,110
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.17