When any personal property shall be consigned to or deposited with any forwarding merchant, wharfinger, warehouse operator, innkeeper, or storage or express company, such consignee or bailee shall immediately cause to be entered in a proper book kept by the consignee or bailee a description of such property, with the date of its reception; and, if not consigned or deposited for the purpose of being forwarded according to directions received by such consignee or bailee at or before the reception thereof, the consignee or bailee shall immediately notify the owner by mail, if the owner’s name and residence be known or can be reasonably ascertained.