text: ***Principles of consolidation:***The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all wholly owned 
  subsidiaries and other entities where effective control is exercised. All significant intercompany balances and 
  transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 
  
  ***Use of estimates:***Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the 
  reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated 
  financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management 
  reviews its estimates, including those related to recoverability and useful lives of assets as well as liabilities for income 
  taxes and pension benefits. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates and actual results could 
  differ from those reported estimates. 
  
  ***Cash and cash equivalents:***The Company considers all temporary cash investments purchased with a maturity of 
  three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit 
  quality financial institutions. At times, these investments may be in excess of FDIC insurance limits. Cash and cash 
  equivalents were $28.7million, $2.2 million, and $2.0 million at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 