Any water power company, organized under the laws of this state, shall have power to exercise the right of eminent domain in like manner as railroad companies, for the purpose of securing sites for the erection of water power plants, together with the necessary dams over any nonnavigable stream and sites for the storage of water, and of securing rights-of-way for the necessary flumes and conduits for the purpose of conducting water for public or private consumption, and generating power, and for the purpose of securing rights-of-way for poles, wire and cables for transferring and transmitting electricity generated by water.
R.L. 1910, § 3187.