When a railroad company desires to extend the line of its railroad beyond either of its previously designated termini, its president and board of directors may submit the question of such extension and change of termini to a meeting of its stockholders, to be called for that purpose by notice published for four consecutive weeks in some newspaper in general circulation in each county through or into which the railroad passes. If the holders of a majority of the stock, in person or by proxy, so determine, the president and board, or a majority of it, shall make a certificate of the fact, naming the place of the new termini of the road and the counties through or into which the extended line of railroad will pass, and file it in the office of the secretary of state. Such extension then shall be held to be a part of the original line of the railroad.