<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET  AS OF  DECEMBER  31,  1997  AND  THE  CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
<CASH>                                                                     7,130
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                             36,999
<ALLOWANCES>                                                               2,300
<INVENTORY>                                                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                               0
<PP&E>                                                                   951,305
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           175,263
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         1,179,198
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                          0
<BONDS>                                                                  619,860
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                     418
<OTHER-SE>                                                               522,578
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           1,179,198
<SALES>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                         134,988
<CGS>                                                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                              1,641
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        35,750
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                           72,897
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                       72,897
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                              72,897
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               1.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               1.76
        

</TABLE>