The commissioner may accept and act upon the opinions, appraisements and reports of any engineers, appraisers, or other experts which may be presented by an applicant or any interested party, on any question of fact concerning or affecting the franchises proposed to be offered and sold. In lieu of, or in addition to, such opinions, appraisements, and reports, the commissioner may have any or all matters concerning or affecting such franchises investigated, appraised, passed upon and certified to him by engineers, appraisers or other experts selected by him.