The Department may acquire, by purchase or by condemnation, the franchise and all equipment, boats, landing facilities, and other appurtenances of any ferry in existence on March 15, 1959, operating on the Illinois River and connecting any road a part of the county highway system in any county having not more than 7,000 inhabitants, as determined by the 1950 Federal census, with any State highway in any county having not more than 16,000 inhabitants, as determined by the same census.
605 ILCS 5/10-901