21-35-1. Condemnors covered by chapter--Petition for ascertainment of compensation by jury.
In all cases where any person, group, or corporation, public or private, including the owners of water rights, ditches, flumes, reservoirs, and mining property under the provisions of the laws of Congress, invested with the privilege of taking or damaging private property for public use, in making, constructing, repairing, or using any work or improvement allowed by law, shall determine to exercise such privilege, it shall file a petition in the circuit court for the county in which the property to be taken or damaged is situated, praying that the just compensation to be made for such property may be ascertained by a jury.
Source: SL 1891, ch 94, §1; RCCivP 1903, §863; RC 1919, §2938; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, §37.4001.