Section 273. Railroad or steamboat company may act as agent of owner

The
  several superintendents of the railroad companies, and the branches  and
  connections thereof, and steamboat lines operating their roads or lines,
  or  any  portion  thereof,  in  this  state shall have power to collect,
  gather and take into  possession  from  any  person  or  whenever  found
  thereupon,  any cans belonging to any such owner, dealer or shipper, and
  return the same to such owner, dealer or  shipper  and  may  appoint  an
  agent for that purpose, and such superintendent and such agent appointed
  by  him shall have the same power and authority under this article as an
  agent of such owner, dealer or shipper.
    The certificate of such  superintendent  appointing  such  agent  duly
  acknowledged  shall  be  presumptive  evidence  of  the  appointment and
  authority of such agent.