The right of eminent domain is hereby conferred upon all districts for the purpose of condemning and acquiring the right of way over and through all lands, private and public, except property used for cemetery purposes, necessary for making and maintaining dams, bulkheads, jetties, locks, gates and all other improvements necessary and proper for such construction. Such right shall extent to any county in this State. All such condemnation proceedings shall be under the direction of the directors and in the name of the district; and all compensation and damages adjudicated in such proceedings shall be paid out of the “Construction and Maintenance Fund.”