N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 273

§ 273. Railroad or steamboat company may act as agent of owner. The\nseveral superintendents of the railroad companies, and the branches and\nconnections thereof, and steamboat lines operating their roads or lines,\nor any portion thereof, in this state shall have power to collect,\ngather and take into possession from any person or whenever found\nthereupon, any cans belonging to any such owner, dealer or shipper, and\nreturn the same to such owner, dealer or shipper and may appoint an\nagent for that purpose, and such superintendent and such agent appointed\nby him shall have the same power and authority under this article as an\nagent of such owner, dealer or shipper.\n The certificate of such superintendent appointing such agent duly\nacknowledged shall be presumptive evidence of the appointment and\nauthority of such agent.\n