Ferry landings shall be deemed public highways, and may be laid out, constructed, maintained, altered, or discontinued in the same manner, and shall in all respects be subject to the same regulations, so far as they may be applicable, as other public highways and bridges; and any public highways along the border of, or terminating upon, the waters of any stream, river, or other body of water across which a ferry is licensed, may be used as a landing for such ferry, subject to such rules and regulations as the authorities having control over highways may establish, and such use shall be deemed a proper use thereof as a highway.