Thereupon the attorney for the city, in the name of the city, shall apply to the circuit court of the county where the city is located, by petition, setting forth the limits of the benefit district, a correct description of the property that is sought to be acquired or condemned, the use for which such land is to be taken and dedicated or the general nature of the improvements proposed to be made, the names of the owners of the several lots, tracts or parcels of land if known, or if unknown a correct description of the parcels whose owners are unknown, and praying the appointment of three disinterested commissioners, who are residents of the county, in which the real estate or a portion thereof is situated, to assess the damages which the owners may severally sustain by reason of the appropriation and condemnation of such real estate by the city for any of the purposes described in this section, and to assess the property especially benefitted by the improvements within the benefitted district, in proportion to the benefits accruing to each from the proposed improvements.