<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001037676 <NAME> ARCH COAL, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 25,170 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 202,734 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 71,320 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 362,518 <PP&E> 2,655,717 <DEPRECIATION> 746,397 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,879,561 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 381,669 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 397 <OTHER-SE> 622,454 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,879,561 <SALES> 1,034,474 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,090,113 <CGS> 943,438 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,016,396 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 38,770 <INCOME-PRETAX> 35,263 <INCOME-TAX> 3,900 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,363 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 1,488 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,875 <EPS-PRIMARY> .75 <EPS-DILUTED> .75