All common carriers for transportation, over whose lines or parts thereof any freight, baggage or other property received by another such carrier for through shipment or transportation by such carriers on a contract for through carriage recognized, acquiesced in or acted upon by such carriers, shall in this State, with respect to the undertaking and carrying out of such transportation, be considered and construed to be connecting lines and each of such carriers, including the initial recipient of such property, shall be deemed and held to be the agents of each of the others and shall be held and deemed to be under a contract with each other and with the shipper, owner and consignee of such property for the safe and speedy through transportation thereof from the point of shipment to its destination and such contract as to the shipper, owner or consignee of such property shall be deemed and held to be the contract of each of such common carriers. In any of the courts of this State any through bill of lading, way bill, receipt, check or other instrument issued by any of such carriers or other proof showing that any of them has received such freight, baggage or other property for such through shipment or transportation shall constitute prima facie evidence of the subsistence of the relations, duties and liabilities of such carriers as herein defined and prescribed, notwithstanding any stipulations or attempted stipulations to the contrary by such carriers or any of them.