Note 8 - Summary of Investments (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity Securities [Member]
Marketable securities
Aggregate fair value	$ 174,112,000	$ 165,734,000
Amortized/Adjusted cost basis	49,980,000	43,042,000
Pretax unrealized gains	124,132,000	122,692,000
Debt Securities [Member]
Marketable securities
Aggregate fair value	7,525,000	7,942,000
Amortized/Adjusted cost basis	4,938,000	4,934,000
Pretax unrealized gains	2,587,000	3,008,000
Aggregate fair value	181,637,000	173,676,000
Amortized/Adjusted cost basis	54,918,000	47,976,000
Pretax unrealized gains	$ 126,719,000	$ 125,700,000