If a railroad corporation obstructs the travel or means of access to a manufactory, mill, place of business, or dwelling house in laying out, building, grading, or making its road, it shall be liable to pay to the person thereby injured such reasonable compensation as the commissioners for determining railroad damages deem proper. The person so claiming to be damaged may apply in writing to the commissioners, setting forth such damage. Such application, with a notice from the commissioners to the corporation of the time and place of hearing, shall be served on the corporation according to law.