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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000007694-04-000011.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0000007694-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123160127
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000007694-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROUSE WILLIAM L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001026066
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02918
		FILM NUMBER:		04540791

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		REPUBLIC BANK CENTER
		STREET 2:		700 LOUISIANNA, SUITE 3920
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6063293333

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		REPUBLIC BANK CENTER
		STREET 2:		700 LOUISIANNA, SUITE 3920
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001026066d20040123f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik><issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001026066</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROUSE WILLIAM L JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>2201 REGENCY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 602</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>40503</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><no
nDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>37.5</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10443</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><v
alue>Restricted Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>46.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcq
uiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-07-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents shares of Restricted Common Stock acquired pursuant to Ashland's stock incentive plans as approved by the shareholders and exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>M. Craig Hall</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-0
1-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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