In any action brought to ascertain or recover damages caused to any owner of lands by reason of the appropriation of a right of way or easement in such lands by any county, where such owner of lands and such county cannot agree upon the amount of damages payable to such owner, the parties may by agreement waive the right to have such damages assessed by viewers. Such owner may thereupon file his statement and claim in the court of common pleas and rule the defendant to plead thereto within fifteen days from notice of such rule duly served upon said county, and the said suit shall be proceeded with the same as if an award of viewers had been filed and an appeal had been taken therefrom.

Either party to such action shall have the right during the trial to demand and have the jury which may be selected to try said cause visit and view the premises over or through which the right of way or easement extends before rendering a verdict in such case.