Persons employed under an act of the Congress of the United States, passed February 10, 1807, and the supplements thereto, may enter upon any land within this state, for any purpose which may be necessary to effect the objects of said act, and erect thereon works, stations, buildings or appendages for that purpose, doing no unnecessary injury. If the parties interested cannot agree upon the amount to be paid for damages caused thereby, either of them may file suit in the superior court for the judicial district in which such land is situated. A trial shall be had in said court in the same manner in which other civil actions are tried therein, and such hearing shall take precedence of all other causes. The person so entering upon land may tender to the party injured payment therefor; and, if the damages finally assessed are not more than the amount tendered, the person entering shall recover costs; otherwise, the prevailing party shall recover such costs as are ordinarily taxed in civil actions in said court.