POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned  hereby  appoints each of David L. Hausrath,  Linda L.
Foss,  and Jami K.  Suver,  signing  singly,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact to:

              (1) apply for and obtain on behalf of the undersigned the
         necessary access codes to file Forms 3, 4, 5 and 144, pursuant to
         Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 144 of
         the Securities Act of 1933, respectively, electronically via the EDGAR
         system pursuant to Regulation S-T and the rules thereunder, and

              (2) act in a filing agent capacity to perform any and all acts for
         and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary to complete the
         filing of any such Form 3, 4, 5 and 144 with the U.S. Securities and
         Exchange Commission and any other authority in accordance with Section
         16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder.

     The undersigned hereby grants to each  attorney-in-fact the full power
and authority,  for me and on my behalf,  to perform all acts necessary and
proper to be done in the exercise of the rights and powers hereby granted.

     The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing individuals are acting
under this Power of Attorney at the request of the undersigned, and are not
assuming any of the undersigned's  responsibilities  to comply with Section
16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Rule 144 of the Securities Act
of 1933.

     Each  attorney-in-fact  shall be authorized to act under this Power of
Attorney  only so long as such  attorney-in-fact  is an employee of Ashland
Inc.,  or until  such  time as this  Power of  Attorney  has been  revoked,
annulled or set aside.

     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has  executed  this  Power of
Attorney as of this 1st day of November, 2004.





                              /s/ Lamar M. Chambers
                              ---------------------
                                Lamar M. Chambers