Mississippi Code Title 77. Public Utilities and Carriers § 77-9-179

To construct, maintain, or operate its railroad under, over, and across any and all streams or bodies of water, whether navigable or not, which lie along or across its route, and to erect, use, and maintain bridges over the same; however, whenever a navigable stream or body of water is crossed by a bridge, there shall be maintained a draw or swing in the bridge sufficient to allow the passage of boats and water craft; and to establish such transfers, landings, wharves, approaches, and inclines as may be convenient or necessary in transferring by boat or other water craft its freight, passengers, cars, and rolling stock, loaded or unloaded, upon and across any river or body of water; and to own, use, operate, and control, of itself or with others, all such steamboats, transfer boats, ferries, or water craft, as are or may be convenient in crossing such water or plying therein so as to develop trade over its line of railroad.