(1) Any railroad company may, without securing the grant of any ferry franchise or privilege from the county judge/executive, transport, or employ other persons to transport for it, any passengers, baggage or freight carried, or to be carried, on its railroad line, across any stream within or bordering upon this state.
(2) Any railroad company operating a ferry for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) of this section may transport thereon any other persons, freight or baggage offered for transportation upon obtaining the grant of a ferry franchise or privilege in the manner prescribed by law, except that no railroad company, employee, agent or trustee of a railroad company, shall be granted a franchise or privilege to establish, operate or maintain a new ferry within one mile and a half in a straight line of any ferry already established and in operation.