Note 10 - Investments in Marketable Securities (Details) - Summary of Investments (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Marketable securities
Available-for-sale investment, aggregate fair value	$ 166,823,000	$ 136,994,000
Available-for-sale investment, amortized cost basis	47,978,000	47,976,000
Available-for-sale investment, pretax unrealized gains	118,845,000	89,018,000
Equity Securities [Member]
Marketable securities
Available-for-sale investment, aggregate fair value	158,630,000	129,699,000
Available-for-sale investment, amortized cost basis	43,042,000	43,042,000
Available-for-sale investment, pretax unrealized gains	115,588,000	86,657,000
Debt Securities [Member]
Marketable securities
Available-for-sale investment, aggregate fair value	8,193,000	7,295,000
Available-for-sale investment, amortized cost basis	4,936,000	4,934,000
Available-for-sale investment, pretax unrealized gains	$ 3,257,000	$ 2,361,000

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

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-Section 50

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-Subparagraph (aa)

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Amount before tax of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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