All sales shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation, published in the county where said land and water right is situate, for three (3) consecutive weeks, and shall be sold to the highest bidder at the front door of the courthouse of the county, or such place as may be agreed upon by the terms of the aforesaid contract. And the sheriff of said county shall in all such cases give all notices of sale, and shall sell all such lands and water rights, and shall make and execute a certificate of sale to the purchaser thereof.