Any railroad company incorporated under this chapter shall have the power to make contracts with any other railroad company which has constructed or hereafter constructs any railroad within this state for the purpose of enabling the companies to run their roads in connection with each other and merge their stocks, or to consolidate with each other, or to lease or purchase property and to hold, use, and occupy the same in such manner as they may deem most beneficial to their interests, provided that no railroad shall purchase a competing line of railroad or enter into any contract with a competing line of railroad calculated to defeat or lessen competition in this state. Any violation of this Code section shall subject the corporation to all the penalties incident to such violation of the law.