Any number of persons, not less than five, desiring to be incorporated as a company for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining a canal, may file with the Secretary of State a petition setting out the names and domicile of the petitioners, that they desire to be incorporated as a canal company, the name under which they desire to be incorporated, the route as nearly as possible of the proposed canal, the headquarters of the corporation, the amount of the capital stock, and the number of shares into which divided and pay to the Secretary of State the fee provided for in Code Section 14-4-183.