When the owner of any land desires to construct any levee, open ditch, tile or other underground drain, for agricultural or mining purposes, or for the purposes of securing more complete drainage or a better outlet, across the lands of others or across the right-of-way of a railroad or highway, or when two or more landowners desire to construct a drain to serve their lands, the landowner or landowners may file with the auditor of the county in which any such land or right-of-way is situated, an application in writing, setting forth a description of the land or other property through which the landowner is desirous of constructing any such levee, ditch, or drain, the starting point, route, terminus, character, size, and depth thereof. The auditor shall collect a fee of one dollar for filing each application for a ditch or drain.