Every owner or consignor of freight to be transported by railway from any point within this state to any other point within this state shall have the right to require that the same shall be transported over two or more connecting lines of railway, to be transferred at the connecting point or points without change of car or cars if in carload lots, and with or without change of car or cars if in less than carload lots, whenever the distance from the place of shipment to destination, both being within this state, is less over two or more connecting lines of railway than it is over a single line of railway, or where the initial line does not reach the place of destination; and it shall be the duty, upon the request of any such owner or consignor of freight, made to the initial company, of such railway companies whose lines so connect, to transport the freight without change of car or cars if the shipment be in a carload lot or lots, and with change of car or cars if it be in less than carload lots, from the place of shipment to destination, whenever the distance from the place of shipment to destination, both being within this state, is less than the distance over a single line, or when the initial line does not reach the point of destination, for a reasonable joint through rate.