Said action may be commenced by summons, in which the county in which said bridge is constructed shall be specified as party defendant, and service of said summons by the sheriff or other proper officer of the county upon any member of the board of supervisors of such county shall be sufficient for all purposes. Said summons shall be served by the sheriff or other proper officer at least 5 days before the return day thereof, by exhibiting the original and delivering a copy of the original. If for any cause service shall not be made in accordance with the foregoing, alias and pluries summons may be issued by the court in which action is instituted, as in other civil cases. Service of such summons shall be sufficient notice of the proceedings to bind the defendant and the property represented by it. The return of the officer upon the summons of due service, shall be filed in the clerk’s office before a jury shall be impanelled, and shall be sufficient evidence of service on the defendant and of the manner of service.