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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SLrcJTbWecjA+L/OxPtoMfuxkel5yzbRV4quAdiZ/k2q7wa77xyAj8GgWRN/nvCV
 /0Zw7nv77dORiwJKJBmIUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000007694-03-000129.txt : 20030905
<SEC-HEADER>0000007694-03-000129.hdr.sgml : 20030905
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030905135001
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000007694-03-000129
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030905

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LACY J DANIEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001077478

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02918
		FILM NUMBER:		03883369

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 E RIVERCENTER BLVD
		STREET 2:		POST OFFICE BOX 391
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41012-0391
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6063293333

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 391
		CITY:			ASHLAND
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41101

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASHLAND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007694
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [5160]
		IRS NUMBER:				610122250
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41012
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6068153333

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41012

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASHLAND OIL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASHLAND OIL & REFINING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700806
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001077478d20030905f4s3f.xml
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik><issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001077478</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>LACY J DANIEL</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>41012-0391</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDeri
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5000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.38</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-09-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value>
</natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-09-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-10-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>39</value></conversionOrExer
cisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-09-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-10-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>48</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-09-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-10-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle
><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>53.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-09-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-10-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTr
ansaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>574</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>574</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable
><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares accrued under Ashland's Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of 8-31-03.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Intraplan transfer in Ashland's Employee Savings Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Based on Employee Savings Plan information as of 9-3-03, the latest date for which the information is reasonably available.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's Amended and Restated Incentive Plan  which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock o
ption includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's 1993 Stock Incentive Plan  which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan as of 8-31-03, and exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).  (One (1) Common Stock Unit in the 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock)</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Linda L. Foss</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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