UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   Chellgren, Paul W.
   
   P.O. Box 391
   50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard
   Covington, KY  41012-0391
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   Ashland Inc.
   ASH
3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)
   
4. Statement for Month/Year
   March 31, 1999
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
   
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   ( ) Director ( ) 10% Owner (X) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)
   Chief Executive Officer
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                 |
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1. Title of Security       |2.    |3.    |4.Securities Acquired (A)         |5.Amount of        |6.Dir |7.Nature of Indirect       |
                           | Transaction |  or Disposed of (D)              |  Securities       |ect   |  Beneficial Ownership     |
                           |      |      |                                  |  Beneficially     |(D)or |                           |
                           |      |    | |                  | A/|           |  Owned at         |Indir |                           |
                           | Date |Code|V|    Amount        | D |    Price  |  End of Month     |ect(I)|                           |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
                                                                            
Common Stock               |      |    | |                  |   |           |10,217 (1)         |I     |By Trustee                 |
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Common Stock               |      |    | |                  |   |           |12,989 (2)         |I     |By Trustee                 |
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Common Stock               |      |    | |                  |   |           |60,000 (3)         |D     |                           |
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Common Stock               |      |    | |                  |   |           |2,218 (4)          |D     |                           |
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Common Stock               |      |    | |                  |   |           |22,100             |D     |                           |
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___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table II -- Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                   |
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1.Title of Derivative |2.Con-  |3.   |4.    |5.Number of De |6.Date Exer|7.Title and Amount  |8.Price|9.Number    |10.|11.Nature of|
  Security            |version |Transaction | rivative Secu |cisable and|  of Underlying     |of Deri|of Deriva   |Dir|Indirect    |
                      |or Exer |     |      | rities Acqui  |Expiration |  Securities        |vative |tive        |ect|Beneficial  |
                      |cise    |     |      | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/|                    |Secu   |Securities  |(D)|Ownership   |
                      |Price of|     |      | posed of(D)   |Day/Year)  |                    |rity   |Benefi      |or |            |
                      |Deriva- |     |      |               |Date |Expir|                    |       |ficially    |Ind|            |
                      |tive    |     |      |           | A/|Exer-|ation|   Title and Number |       |Owned at    |ire|            |
                      |Secu-   |     |    | |           | D |cisa-|Date |   of Shares        |       |End of      |ct |            |
                      |rity    |Date |Code|V|  Amount   |   |ble  |     |                    |       |Month       |(I)|            |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
                                                                            
Option (5)            |41.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |90   |-99  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |41.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |91   |-99  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |41.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |92   |-99  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |41.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |93   |-99  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (5)            |30.750  |     |    | |           |   |9-20-|10-20|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |91   |-00  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |30.750  |     |    | |           |   |9-20-|10-20|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |92   |-00  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |30.750  |     |    | |           |   |9-20-|10-20|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |93   |-00  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |30.750  |     |    | |           |   |9-20-|10-20|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |94   |-00  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (5)            |30.50   |     |    | |           |   |9-19-|10-19|Common Stock|12,500 |       |12,500      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |92   |-01  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |30.50   |     |    | |           |   |9-19-|10-19|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |93   |-01  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |30.50   |     |    | |           |   |9-19-|10-19|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |94   |-01  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (5)            |23.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|15,000 |       |15,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |93   |-02  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |23.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|7,500  |       |7,500       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |94   |-02  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |23.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|7,500  |       |7,500       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |95   |-02  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (5)            |24.625  |     |    | |           |   |11-5-|12-5-|Common Stock|12,500 |       |12,500      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |93   |02   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |24.625  |     |    | |           |   |11-5-|12-5-|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |94   |02   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |24.625  |     |    | |           |   |11-5-|12-5-|Common Stock|6,250  |       |6,250       |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |95   |02   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (5)            |33.125  |     |    | |           |   |9-16-|10-16|Common Stock|20,000 |       |20,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |94   |-03  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |33.125  |     |    | |           |   |9-16-|10-16|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |95   |-03  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |33.125  |     |    | |           |   |9-16-|10-16|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |96   |-03  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (6)            |35.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-15-|10-15|Common Stock|20,000 |       |20,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |95   |-04  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |35.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-15-|10-15|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |96   |-04  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |35.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-15-|10-15|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |97   |-04  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (6)            |33.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|20,000 |       |20,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |96   |-05  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |33.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |97   |-05  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |33.875  |     |    | |           |   |9-21-|10-21|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |98   |-05  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (6)            |39.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-19-|10-19|Common Stock|25,000 |       |25,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |97   |-06  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |39.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-19-|10-19|Common Stock|12,500 |       |12,500      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |98   |-06  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |39.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-19-|10-19|Common Stock|12,500 |       |12,500      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |99   |-06  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (7)            |53.375  |3-23-|G(8)|V|5,000      |D  |9-18-|10-18|Common Stock|20,000 |       |0           |D  |            |
                      |        |99   |    | |           |   |98   |-07  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |53.375  |     |    | |           |   |9-18-|10-18|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |99   |-07  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |53.375  |     |    | |           |   |9-18-|10-18|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |00   |-07  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (7)            |53.375  |     |    | |           |   |9-18-|10-18|Common Stock|5,000  |       |5,000       |I (|By Daughter |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |98   |-07  |            |       |       |            |9) |            |
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Option (7)            |53.375  |3-23-|G   |V|5,000      |A  |9-18-|10-18|Common Stock|5,000  |       |10,000      |I (|By Daughter |
                      |        |99   |    | |           |   |98   |-07  |            |       |       |            |10)|            |
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Option (7)            |53.375  |     |    | |           |   |9-18-|10-18|Common Stock|5,000  |       |5,000       |I (|By Son      |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |98   |-07  |            |       |       |            |11)|            |
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Option (12)           |48.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-17-|10-17|Common Stock|20,000 |       |20,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |99   |-08  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                      |48.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-17-|10-17|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |00   |-08  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |48.00   |     |    | |           |   |9-17-|10-17|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |01   |-08  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (12)           |50.4375 |     |    | |           |   |11-5-|12-5-|Common Stock|20,000 |       |20,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |99   |08   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                      |50.4375 |     |    | |           |   |11-5-|12-5-|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |00   |08   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                      |50.4375 |     |    | |           |   |11-5-|12-5-|Common Stock|10,000 |       |10,000      |D  |            |
                      |        |     |    | |           |   |01   |08   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Common Stock Units (13|1-for-1 |     |J   |V|578        |A  |     |     |Common Stock|578    |       |37,577      |D  |            |
)                     |        |     |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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                      |        |     |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|

Explanation of Responses:
 1.  Shares accrued under Ashland's Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan as 
of 3-31-96, the date of the 
final allocation to this 
account.
2.  Based on Employee Savings Plan information as of 3-31-99, the latest date 
for which such information is 
reasonably available, and includes transactions occurring on or after 
11-30-98.
3.  Shares of restricted common stock granted pursuant to Ashland's 1997 Stock 
Incentive Plan and exempt under 
Rule 16b-3.  The restricted common stock has been enrolled in Ashland's 
Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
4.  Shares held in Ashland's Dividend Reinvestment Plan as of 
3-15-99.
5.  Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) 
granted pursuant to Ashland's 
Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding 
feature pursuant to the plan.
6.  Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) 
granted pursuant to Ashland's 1993 
Stock Incentive Plan.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding 
feature pursuant to the plan.
7.  Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) 
granted pursuant to Ashland's 1997 
Stock Incentive Plan.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding 
feature pursuant to the plan.
8.  Gift of 5,000 shares  to my daughter, Sarah 
Chellgren.
9.  I hereby disclaim beneficial ownership of all securities owned by my 
daughter, Jane Chellgren.
10.  I hereby disclaim beneficial ownership of all securities owned by my 
daughter, Sarah Chellgren.
11. I hereby disclaim beneficial ownership of all securities owned by my son, 
Matthew Chellgren.
12.  Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) 
granted pursuant to Ashland's 
1997 Stock Incentive Plan.  The employee stock option includes a tax 
withholding feature pursuant to the plan.
13. Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's 1995 Deferred 
Compensation Plan,  payable in cash or 
stock upon termination of service and exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).  The 
acquisition dates range from 11-6-98 to 
3-31-99,  and the price of the Common Stock Units on the applicable valuation 
dates has ranged from $42.188 to 
$49.00. 
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
Paul W. Chellgren
DATE
April 7, 1999