<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                       9,129,138               9,129,138
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               99,161,896              99,161,896
<ALLOWANCES>                                 4,213,059               4,213,059
<INVENTORY>                                  5,064,238               5,064,238
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           116,850,502             116,850,502
<PP&E>                                      76,723,807              73,723,807
<DEPRECIATION>                              24,832,100              24,832,100
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             358,646,570             358,646,570
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       27,292,972              27,292,972
<BONDS>                                    175,629,792             175,629,792
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       250,257                 250,257
<OTHER-SE>                                 155,473,549             155,473,549
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               358,646,570             358,646,570
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           148,380,503              77,273,282
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               70,998,558              36,672,989
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             4,238,674               2,047,197
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,978,874               2,154,831
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             20,348,281              10,793,682
<INCOME-TAX>                                 7,582,832               4,047,631
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         12,765,449               6,746,051
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                12,765,449               6,746,051
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .50                     .26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .50                     .26