In 1901 another controversial issue arose in the US senate referring to the Panama Canal: the issue of where it should be constructed. Overall, some 20 different routes were proposed, but the primary choices were either Nicaragua or Panama. Some senators argued for Nicaragua not only because the building would be unfettered by British interference in the form of the Clayton - Bulwer Treaty, but also because it was a cheaper alternative to Panama (the French wanted to sell the NPCC for $109 million). Other senators, including President Theodore Roosevelt, finally voted for Panama mainly due to its geographical and technical engineering advantages, but also because of the work de Lesseps had already undertaken in the area. After much debating and string-pulling, [L3 203 / Panama was eventually chosen].
