The authorities of any county in which there is situated and located, in whole or in part, a county ferry, are hereby given the authority to engage in, either directly or through the commission hereinafter provided and designated and such other agencies as hereafter may be provided by law, promoting, developing, constructing, maintaining, and operating or contract to have operated a ferry or ferries and ferry service within the county and its jurisdiction and to the opposite shore of an adjoining county or state, and either directly or through the commission hereinafter provided, shall have the power to acquire, purchase, install, rent, lease, mortgage, or otherwise encumber, to construct, own, hold, maintain, equip, use, control, and operate wharves, piers, docks, quays, warehouses, other water and rail terminals, and other necessary structures and facilities needful for the convenient use of the same in the aid of ferry service from said county to adjoining county or state. The entire cost to any such county or city of engaging in such work or development shall not exceed the sum of two hundred thousand dollars for lands and equipment and annually not more than fifty thousand dollars for maintenance, repairs, and operations.