Whenever the United States or any officer thereof has or hereafter shall have, in pursuance of law, leased or purchased any lands within this State for government purposes, and it may be desirable that any street, highway or public places laid out upon any map of said lands should be vacated, or that any rights, ways, easements or servitudes in or upon said lands should be acquired and extinguished, the Attorney-General, by direction of the Governor, shall on request of said lessee, owner, officer or proper authority of the United States, bring a civil action in the Superior Court to adjudge the true value of any rights, ways, easements or servitudes in or upon said lands, and provide for such acquisition and extinguishment. The court may proceed in the action in a summary manner or otherwise.
N.J.S. § 52:30-4