Note 9 - Summary of Investments (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Equity Securities [Member]
Marketable securities
Aggregate fair value	$ 153,432,000	$ 158,705,000
Amortized/Adjusted cost basis	53,442,000	49,604,000
Pretax unrealized gains	99,990,000	109,101,000
Debt Securities [Member]
Marketable securities
Aggregate fair value	7,818,000	7,336,000
Amortized/Adjusted cost basis	4,940,000	4,939,000
Pretax unrealized gains	2,878,000	2,397,000
Aggregate fair value	161,250,000	166,041,000
Amortized/Adjusted cost basis	58,382,000	54,543,000
Pretax unrealized gains	$ 102,868,000	$ 111,498,000