UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 5
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
( ) Form 3 Holdings Reported
( ) Form 4 Transactions Reported
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   Jackson, Mannie L.
   
   Harlem Globetrotters International
   400 East Van Buren Street, Suite 300
   Phoenix, Arizona  85004
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
   September 30, 1997
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
   
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   (X) Director  ( ) 10% Owner  ( ) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)
   
7. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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 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     |
                             |Date  |Code|                                  |  Beneficially     |(D)or |                           |
                             |      |    |                  | A/|           |  Owned at         |Indir |                           |
                             |      |    |    Amount        | D |    Price  |  End of Year      |ect(I)|                           |
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Common Stock                 |      |    |                  |   |           |1,000 (1)          |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 |Date |Code| rities Acqui  |Expiration |  Securities        |vative |tive        |ect|Beneficial  |
                        |cise Pr |     |    | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/|                    |Secu   |Securities  |(D)|Ownership   |
                        |ice  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    |     |    |  Amount   |   |ble  |     |                    |       |Year        |(I)|            |
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Common Stock Units (2)  |1-for-1 |     |J   |779        |A  |     |     |Common Stock|779    |(2)    |8,320       |D  |            |
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Option (3)              |33.00   |     |    |           |   |7-27-|1-27-|Common Stock|1,000  |       |1,000       |D  |            |
                        |        |     |    |           |   |95   |05   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Option (3)              |43.125  |     |    |           |   |7-30-|1-30-|Common Stock|1,000  |       |1,000       |D  |            |
                        |        |     |    |           |   |97   |07   |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Explanation of Responses:
1. 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.
2. Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation and 
Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors, payable in cash or stock upon 
termination in service, and 
exempt under  Rule 16b-3.  The acquisition dates range from 1/1/97 to 9/30/97 
and the price of the Common Stock Units on applicable dates has varied from 
$40.250  to $54.375.
3. Stock options (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted 
pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation and Stock Incentive Plan for 
Non-Employee Directors.
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
Mannie L. Jackson
DATE
October 26, 1997