Section 18. Railroads through public lands

The commissioner of general
  services may grant to any domestic or foreign railroad corporation  land
  belonging  to the people of the state, except the reservation at Niagara
  and the Concourse lands on Coney Island, which may be required  for  the
  purposes  of  its road on such terms as may be agreed upon by them; or a
  domestic railroad corporation may acquire title thereto by condemnation;
  and the county or town officers having charge of any land  belonging  to
  any county or town, required for a domestic railroad corporation for the
  purposes  of  its  road, may grant such land to the corporation for such
  compensation as may be agreed upon. In  case  the  land  or  any  right,
  interest or easement therein, required by a domestic or foreign railroad
  corporation  is  used  for  prison  purposes the commissioner of general
  services may grant  such  land,  or  any  right,  interest  or  easement
  therein,  provided the plans of such railroad corporation for the use of
  such prison lands, or such right, interest or easement therein, have the
  approval of the commissioner of correctional services.