<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> Year <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1997 <CASH> 1,192,827 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25,516,385 <ALLOWANCES> 1,650,000 <INVENTORY> 4,380,126 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 35,297,081 <PP&E> 86,264,660 <DEPRECIATION> (57,481,974) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 107,880,392 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 31,353,042 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 136,196 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 38,507,582 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 107,880,392 <SALES> 159,147,638 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 159,147,638 <CGS> 127,034,302 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,829,835 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (168,328) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,024,905 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,426,924 <INCOME-TAX> 1,760,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 666,924 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 666,924 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.05 <EPS-DILUTED> 0