<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 8,767,393 8,767,393 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 115,854,977 115,854,977 <ALLOWANCES> 6,543,817 6,543,817 <INVENTORY> 5,308,301 5,308,301 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 129,464,999 129,464,999 <PP&E> 89,827,349 89,827,349 <DEPRECIATION> 27,214,548 27,214,548 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 427,740,157 427,740,157 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 35,071,230 35,071,230 <BONDS> 229,227,781 229,227,781 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 250,284 250,284 <OTHER-SE> 163,190,862 163,190,862 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 427,740,157 427,740,157 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 234,939,886 86,559,383 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 111,485,541 40,486,983 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,516,327 2,277,653 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,095,437 3,116,563 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,701,547 12,353,266 <INCOME-TAX> 12,276,911 4,694,079 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 20,424,636 7,659,187 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 20,424,636 7,659,187 <EPS-PRIMARY> .79 .29 <EPS-DILUTED> .78 .29