Any five persons who desire to form a company for the purpose of constructing and maintaining reservoirs and canals or ditches and pipelines for supplying water for irrigation, mining, manufacturing, domestic and other public uses, including cities and towns, and for the improvement of lands in connection therewith shall make and sign articles of incorporation that shall be acknowledged before the secretary of state or some person authorized by law to take the acknowledgment of conveyances of real estate. When so acknowledged, the articles shall be filed with the secretary of state.