In all cases where it may be deemed desirable and necessary to divert any watercourse from its usual channel for any of the purposes specified in Code Section 44-9-70, it shall be lawful to submit the request to arbitration as provided in Chapter 9 of Title 9; and the arbitrators shall decide if it is necessary to divert the watercourse, who will be damaged by the diversion, and the amount of damage which will result.
(Ga. L. 1862-63, p. 171, § 1; Code 1868, § 774; Code 1873, § 744; Code 1882, § 744; Civil Code 1895, § 652; Civil Code 1910, § 797; Code 1933, § 83-203.)