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Note 6 - Investments in U.S. Treasury Notes and Bills and Marketable Securities
 9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 6 -  Investments in U.S. Treasury Notes and Bills and Marketable Securities

     Investments in U.S. Treasury Notes and Bills and marketable securities categorized as “available-for-sale” are stated at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported in accumulated other comprehensive income.  Consequently, as of June 30, 2011 and September 30 2010, an unrealized gain of $34,755,000 and $29,655,000, respectively, net of taxes, was recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (consistent with the Level 1 definition in the fair value hierarchy) to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820.

   
June 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
                   
   
Aggregate
fair value
   
Amortized
cost basis
   
Pretax unrealized gains
   
Aggregate
fair value
   
Amortized
cost basis
   
Pretax unrealized gains
 
U.S. Treasury Notes and Bills
  $ 9,100,000     $ 9,100,000     $ ---     $ 13,499,000     $ 13,499,000     $ ---  
Marketable securities
                                               
   Common stocks
    58,922,000       26,655,000       32,267,000       43,005,000       15,501,000       27,504,000  
   Bonds
    7,416,000       4,928,000       2,488,000       7,077,000       4,926,000       2,151,000  
      Total
  $ 75,438,000     $ 40,683,000     $ 34,755,000     $ 63,581,000     $ 33,926,000     $ 29,655,000  

     At June 30, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Bills had maturity dates of less than one year, and the bonds mature in 2039.   All investments are classified as “Current assets” because they are available for sale at any time.