<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-04-000011
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040122
<FILING-DATE>20040123
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ROUSE WILLIAM L JR
<CIK>0001026066
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>04540791
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>REPUBLIC BANK CENTER
<STREET2>700 LOUISIANNA, SUITE 3920
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77002
<PHONE>6063293333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>REPUBLIC BANK CENTER
<STREET2>700 LOUISIANNA, SUITE 3920
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77002
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND INC
<CIK>0000007694
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5160
<IRS-NUMBER>610122250
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
<PHONE>6068153333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL & REFINING CO
<DATE-CHANGED>19700806
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001026066d20040123f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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